ude of a landscape..."

"That's it," said Lyveden excitedly. "You've got it in one. The place
is so pathetically grateful for every stock and stone you set straight,
that you just can't hold your hand. And all the time the work's so
fascinating that you don't deserve any thanks. You seem to get deeper
in debt every day. You're credited with every cheque you draw. If I
stopped, it'd haunt me."

"It is plain," said Andre, "that, when you die, 'Gramarye' will be
graven upon your heart. All the same, are you sure you were meant for
this? Aren't there things in life besides the straightening of stocks
and stones?"

"The War's over," said Lyveden.

"I know. But there was a world before 1914. I think your occupation's
wonderful, but isn't it a little unnatural--unfair to yourself and
others--to give it the whole of your life? As estates go, I fancy the
possibilities of Eden were even more amazing than those of Gramarye--I
daresay you won't admit that, but then you're biassed--and yet the
introduction of Eve was considered advisable."

"With the result that ..."

Miss Strongi'th'arm laughed.

"With the result that you and I are alive this glorious day, with our
destinies in our pockets and the great round world at our feet. I
wonder whether I ought to go into a nunnery."

"I've tried kicking the world," said Anthony, "and I'm still lame from
it. And Fate picked my pocket months and months ago."

"So Faint Heart turned into the first monastery he came to," said
Andre, leaning forward and caressing her hunter's neck. "What d'you
think of that, Joshua?"

As if by way of comment, the horse snorted, and Anthony found himself
joining in Miss Strongi'th'arm's mirth.

"There's hope for you yet," gurgled that lady. "Your sense of humour
is still kicking. And that under the mud appears to be a scrap of a
dog. When you take your final vows, will you give him to me?"

"In my monastery," said Lyveden, "monks are allowed to keep dogs.
There is also no rule against laughter."

"Isn't there, now?" flashed Andre. "I wonder why? There's no rule
against idleness either, is there?" She laughed bitterly. "Rules are
made to cope with inclinations. Where there's no inclination----" She
broke off suddenly and checked her horse. Setting her hand upon
Lyveden's shoulder, she looked into his eyes. "You laughed just now,
didn't you? When did you last laugh before that?"

Anthony stared back. The girl's intuitio