vick, and I saw her face flush with excitement. Evidently the
mention of the new-comers' names meant a great deal to her.

Then I looked at Edgecumbe, and I saw that he too had been watching her.

CHAPTER XVII

A NEW DEVELOPMENT

Charlie Buller, as Lady Bolivick had called him, was a young fellow
about twenty-four years of age, and was first lieutenant in the
Devonshire yeomanry. He had been wounded in France, and some time
before my return to England had been in a hospital in London. Only a
few days before he had been discharged from the hospital, and had now
returned to his Devonshire home on leave. He was the only son of a
squire whose lands joined those of Sir Thomas Bolivick, and was, as
Norah Blackwater told me during the evening, a suitor for Lorna
Bolivick's hand.

'I think it is as good as settled,' she said to me, 'although no
engagement has been announced. He will be a splendid match for her,
too, and owns one of the finest estates in Devonshire. Didn't you see
how excited Lorna became when she heard that he had come?'

This was the first time I had seen Springfield since I had helped
Edgecumbe to dig him from under a heap of rubbish in France.

They had both dined early, they said, and the night being fine, had
motored over, Charlie Buller's home being only four miles from Bolivick.

Buller was a good-looking boy, fresh-coloured, curly-haired, and
although in no way remarkable, quite likeable. Springfield I liked
less now than when I had first seen him. His face looked paler and
less wholesome than ever. The old scar which I had noticed on our
first meeting revealed itself more plainly, while his somewhat sinister
appearance repelled me.

Sir Thomas, however, gave him a hearty greeting, and welcomed him to
his house with great cordiality. Sir Thomas had dined well, and was by
this time in great good humour.

'This is splendid!' he cried, 'four men in khaki here all together!
Ah, don't I wish my boys were at home to complete the party! But
there, never mind, please God they'll come back.'

Springfield was introduced to Edgecumbe as though he were an entire
stranger, and neither of them gave the slightest indication that they
had ever met before. I wondered, as I saw them, whether Springfield
had been aware of the name of the man who had, in all probability,
saved him from death. I did not quite see how he could have been
ignorant of it, and yet, from the way he greeted Edgecumb