er scenes.

"I'm restoring an estate," said Anthony. "When you knew me, I was a
footman. Now I'm something between a forester, a landscape-gardener,
and a roadman. This"--he lifted an indicating arm--"this belongs to a
Colonel Winchester. It's been let go for over a hundred years, and he
and I and a few others are working to pull it round. It's just
fascinating."

Valerie nodded.

"I'm glad you're happy," she said, and wondered whether that was the
moment to speak her unspoken lines. Surely a better opening would
present itself. Now that they could not come first, it seemed so
awkward to thrust them in without any introduction. While she
hesitated, the chance passed.

"I'm sure you are. Would you care to see something of the park? I'd
like you to. It'll make it easier for you to understand what we're up
against and what an amazing attraction there is in the work." Together
they left the cottage and made for the track. "If we go down here for
a bit, you'll get an idea of the condition of things, and then I'll
show you some of the work we've done. Of course it goes slow. Five
thousand acres aren't reclaimed in a day. You see...."

The steady, even tone flowed with a surprising ease. Anthony could
hardly believe his ears. How on earth he was able to talk so naturally
he could not divine. He was, of course, putting up a tremendous fight.
The sudden appearance of Valerie had fairly staggered him. Then
instinctively he had pulled himself together, and, with his head still
singing from the blow, striven dazedly to ward her off. The great
thing, he felt, was to keep talking....

Ever since his dismissal he had fought unceasingly to thrust the lady
out of his mind: latterly his efforts had met with a halting success.
Now, not only was all this labour utterly lost, but he was faced with a
peril more terrifying than death. The prospect of being haled once
more unto Pisgah, the hell of viewing once again that exquisite land of
promise unfulfilled, loomed big with torment. He simply could not
suffer it all again. The path, no doubt, would be made more specious
than ever. Oh, indubitably. And the whips which were waiting at the
end of it would have become scorpions.... Anthony had braced himself
for an immense resistance.

The devil of it was, he loved the girl so desperately that resistance
pure and simple would be of no avail. He knew he could never hope to
parry the thrusts those beautiful eyes