"Oh, he thinks such a lot of me, you know. And I am very fond of him. We've been awfully good friends, Oliver. At all events he does appreciate me." This was why she felt tender about Arthur, and was more sorry for him than for the others who were to suffer by what she did. She had not been enough to the others--neither to her husband nor to Margaret--but to Arthur she knew that she had been and was a great deal. Besides she could not possibly get up any case against Arthur, whatever plausible complaints she might have about the others, on the score of coldness, or indifference, or incompatibility, or sulks. "In Arthur's presence I'll be as prim as a monk," Oliver promised her, laughing again, as she left him before dinner. He strolled out on to the lawn, to smoke a cigarette before going to dress, and there met Judith Arden on her return from the wood. "So you're back again, Sir Oliver!" she said, shaking hands. "As you see. I hope you're not tired of me? It's only to be a short stay, anyhow." The two were on a well-established footing, chosen by Judith, acquiesced in by Sir Oliver. He was pretty sure that she knew what he was about, but thought she could cause him no hindrance, even if she wished. She treated him with a cool irony that practically endorsed his opinion on both points. "If you're anxious to be told that we're all glad to see you, I'll give you the formal assurance. I'm sorry my uncle is not well enough to welcome you himself." "Oh, I hope he'll be up and about to-morrow. Bernadette tells me it's nothing serious." "She ought to know, Sir Oliver, being his wife." "The party has received an addition since I was here, I see." "Yes. Some company for us when you and Bernadette go out motoring!" "Do you think that the addition will be willing to fall in with that--well, that grouping?" "Now I come to think of it, perhaps not. But there--you always get your own way, don't you?" "If that flattery were only sincere, it would be sweet to my ears, Miss Judith." "It's sincere enough. I didn't mean it as flattery. I spoke rather in a spirit of resignation." "The same spirit will animate our friend perhaps--the addition, I mean." "It may; it's rather in the air at Hilsey. But he mayn't have been here long enough to catch it. I rather think he hasn't." "You invest the position with exciting possibilities! Unless I fight hard, I may be done out of my motor rides!" "That would leave me calm," she flung at him over her shoulder as she went into the house.