body knows
how far if you came across country," he said, staring at her out of his
slightly prominent eyes.

"I did come across country. And if you will be kind enough to start me
toward home--"

"You mean to _walk_ back!"

"Of course I do."

"I won't permit it!" he exclaimed. "It's only a little way across to the
house and we'll just step over and I'll have a car brought around for
you--"

"Thank you, I am not tired--"

"You are on my land, therefore you are my guest," he insisted. "I am not
going to let you go back on foot--"

"Mr. Cardemon, if you please, I very much prefer to return in my own
way."

"What an obstinate girl you are!" he said, with his uncertain laugh,
which never came until he had prejudged its effect on the situation; but
the puffy flesh above his white riding-stock behind his lobeless ears
reddened, and a slow, thickish colour came into his face and remained
under the thick skin.

"If you won't let me send you back in a car," he said, "you at least
won't refuse a glass of sherry and a biscuit--"

"Thank you--I haven't time--"

"My housekeeper, Mrs. Munn, is on the premises," he persisted.

"You are very kind, but--"

"Oh, don't turn a man down so mercilessly, Miss West!"

"You are exceedingly amiable," she repeated, "but I must go at once."

He switched the weeds with his crop, then the uncertain laugh came:

"I'll show you a short cut," he said. His prominent eyes rested on her,
passed over her from head to foot, then wandered askance over the young
woodland.

"In which direction lies Estwich?" she asked, lifting her gaze to meet
his eyes; but they avoided her as he answered, busy fumbling with a
girth that required no adjustment:

"Over yonder,"--making a slight movement with his head. Then taking his
horse by the head he said heartily:

"Awfully sorry you won't accept my hospitality; but if you won't you
won't, and we'll try to find a short cut."

He led his horse out of the path straight ahead through the woods, and
she walked beside him.

"Of course you know the way, Mr. Cardemon?" she said pleasantly.

"I ought to--unless the undergrowth has changed the looks of things
since I've been through."

"How long is it since you've been through?"

"Oh, I can't just recollect," he said carelessly. "I guess it will be
all right."

For a while they walked steadily forward among the trees; he talking to
her with a frank and detached amiability, asking about the people a