"Well, I think they are, really. But they rather need an intermediary, all the same--somebody to tell Margaret that her father wants her, and _vice versa_. My function, Arthur--among others which you may have observed that I fulfil in the course of your study of the household." He laughed. "I don't think I have studied it. What is there to study?" "There's a good deal to study in every household, I expect." They had scaled the hill and stood on the edge of the wood. "There's a pretty view of the house from here," she said, turning round. "By Jove, how jolly and--and peaceful, don't you know?--it all looks!" Her eyes turned from the view to the young man's face. She smiled, a little in scorn, more in pity. Because he really seemed to identify the features of the landscape with the household at Hilsey Manor--a most pathetic fallacy! But he had always been blind, strangely blind, dazzled by the blaze of his adoration. Yet she liked him for his blindness, and conceived it no business of hers to open his eyes. Though they were opened to a full glare of knowledge and sorrow, how would that help? To her own eyes there rested now a dark shadow over the house, a cloud that might burst in storm. She felt a whimsical despair about her companion. How he soared in a heaven of his own making, with an angel of his own manufacture! With what a thud he would come to earth, and how the angel would moult her wings, if a certain thing happened! Oh, what a fool he was--yet attractive in his folly! For the sake of woman, she could almost love him for the love he bore his Bernadette--who was not, by a long way, the real one. "I'm rather glad Wyse isn't going to be here for a bit yet," said Arthur thoughtfully. "We shall be jollier by ourselves." Queer that he should put a name so pat to the shadow which he could not see! "I like him all right, but he'd be rather in the way, wouldn't he?" Of a surety he was in the way--right plump in the middle of it! There was sore doubt whether the family coach could get by without a spill. "Well, when he comes back, you mustn't expect to monopolise Bernadette." "I don't think I ever try to do that, do I?" he asked quickly, flushing a little. "I mean, I don't set up to--well, I don't make a bore of myself, do I?" "Goodness, no! I suppose I meant that you mustn't mind if Sir Oliver monopolises her rather." "Oh, but I shall mind that!" cried Arthur in dismay. Then he laughed. "But I'm hanged if he shall do it! I'll put up a fight. What happened when he was here before?" "Well, he's her friend, you see, not mine or Godfrey's. So, naturally, I suppose----" "What did they do together?" "Motored mostly." "That'd mean she'd be out half the day!" "Yes. All day sometimes."