"Will you walk to the farm with me? Have you had a walk to-day? Will ma mère spare you?" "Oh yes, go," said the Countess a little impatiently to Adrienne. "And make him see my side of things, Adrienne. If he values his father's home at all, he will make some effort to keep it." When a little later Adrienne set out down the drive with Guy, she felt tongue-tied. She had so much to say that she hardly knew where to begin. Guy was silent for the first few minutes himself, but he soon spoke: "Well, little cousin, my time has come. To-morrow afternoon the tug of war will begin; my lawyer versus Bouverie. But to-morrow morning, I must have a very plain talk with ma mère. We must have no repetition of these mortgages if we once get clear of them." "Oh, Cousin Guy, take the Château over yourself. You must. It is the only way. If you can only afford it, do keep it yourself." "That is precisely what I have always meant to do, but ma mère would not have relinquished it until she was driven to the last extremity. You will hear my plans to-morrow." "Now I must tell you about your picture," said Adrienne. "I have not told Aunt Cecily, and I don't know if I took too much upon myself. Listen!" She recounted to him the events of the afternoon. Guy listened with his imperturbable face, and when she had finished said: "Thank you, little cousin. I think you showed great pluck and presence of mind. Best not talk to ma mère about it. She looks very frail." "Yes, I have really been anxious about her. Any great shock would be disastrous, I believe, to her. I needn't ask you to be patient with her, because you always are. In some ways you're a marvel!" "She mustn't have a shock, eh?" Guy stopped in his long strides. They had come to the gate of the farm, and he pointed to the house. "In there I have something that may be a surprise to her. I hardly think it could be a shock. My experience of your aunt is that she is so detached from every one but herself, that other people's lives and fortunes do not interest her or affect her." "I think you are right there," said Adrienne slowly. Then her eyes wandered to the farm. Guy followed her gaze. "It is what I went to find," he said. "Come along, and you will be enlightened." Adrienne followed him up the narrow path. It was an unpretentious, small farmhouse, with whitewashed walls and blue slate roof, but it looked very sweet in the autumn sunshine. There was a minute grass plot, in front of which a small boy and a big dog were disporting themselves. As they came up the boy sprang to his feet, then planted himself a little defiantly, his back against the door, upon the doorstep. He was a pretty child with a shock of dark curls upon his head, and a small pointed face. For a moment Adrienne thought he must be some belonging of the farmer's, and then, as she looked again, his whole bearing and dress did not betoken a peasant child.