s
wondering whether Godfrey would allow him to drive his car; Dolly and
Timmy, as different in everything else as two human beings could well
be, each desired to take him into the village and show him off to their
friends. The only one of the young people who was not really interested
in Radmore was Jack Tosswill. He was engaged just now in looking
feverishly for an old gardening book which he had promised to lend Mrs.
Crofton, and he was cursing under his breath because the book had been
mislaid.

As Rosamund looked in, her step-mother and Radmore both stopped speaking
abruptly, and so after a doubtful moment, she withdrew her head, and shut
the door behind her.

"Tell me about George," he said, without looking at her.

"I think Betty would like to tell you," she answered slowly: "Ask her
about him some time when you're alone together."

"Where is she now?" he asked abruptly.

"In the kitchen I think--but she won't be long."

Jack, looking ruffled and uneasy, very unlike his quiet, cool self, burst
into the room. "I can't think where that old shabby green gardening book
has gone, Janet. Do you know where it is?"

"You mean 'Gardening for Ladies'?"

"Yes."

"What on earth d'you want it for?"

"For Mrs. Crofton. Her garden's been awfully neglected."

"I'll find it presently. I think it's in my bedroom."

Again the door shut, and Janet turned to Radmore: "Your friend has made
a conquest of Jack!" She spoke with a touch of rather studied unconcern,
for she had been a little taken aback last evening when Timmy had told
her casually of his own and his godfather's call at The Trellis House.

"My friend?" Radmore repeated uncertainly.

"I mean Mrs. Crofton. The coming of a new person to live in Beechfield is
still quite an event, Godfrey."

"I don't think she'll make much difference to Beechfield," again he spoke
with a touch of hesitation. "To tell you the truth, Janet, I rather
wonder that she decided to live in the country at all. I should have
thought that she would far prefer London, and all that London stands for.
But I'm afraid that she's got very little money, and, of course, the
country _is_ cheaper than town, isn't it?"

"I suppose it is. But Mrs. Crofton can't be poor. I know she paid a
premium for the lease of The Trellis House."

"That's odd." Radmore spoke in an off-hand manner, but Janet, watching
him, thought he felt a little awkward. He went on:--"I know that Colonel
Crofton was hard up.