"Percival," she said in a low, quick tone, "don't be surprised. I want to say a word to you. Look as if it were nothing." Though he was startled, he contrived not to betray it. After the first moment there is small danger of failing to appear indifferent--very great danger of seeming preternaturally indifferent. Percival had tact enough to avoid this. He listened, and replied with the polite attention, which was natural to him, but his manner was tinged--any words I can find seem too coarse to describe it--with just the faintest shade of languor, just the slightest possible show of scorn and weariness of the great agricultural show itself. It was not enough to attract notice: it was quite enough to preclude any idea of excited interest. "I am in a little difficulty," said Addie. "You could help me if you would." "You may command me." "You will not mind a little trouble? And you would keep my secret? I have no right to ask, but there is no one--I think you are my friend." "Suppose me a brother for this occasion, Addie. Waste no more time in apologies." "A brother! Be it so. Then, my brother, I have to go through Langley Wood to-morrow evening, and I am afraid to go alone." "I will gladly be your escort. Where shall I meet you?" "There is a milestone about a quarter of a mile on the road to our house, after you have passed the gate into the wood. Don't come any farther. Somewhere between the gate and that." "I know it. At what time?" "Half-past eight, or a few minutes earlier. Will that suit you?" "Perfectly. I will be there." "If you don't see me before nine don't wait for me. I shall have failed somehow." "I understand," said Percival. "I will explain to-morrow. You must trust me till then." "You shall do as you please. I don't ask for any explanations, remember. Have you been having much croquet lately?" "Oh, much as usual. Lottie has been beating me, also as usual. We have joined the Fordborough Croquet Club." "Then I suspect the former members feel small." "One or two of the best players feel ill-tempered, I think, unless they make-believe very much. Lottie means to win the ivory mallet, she says; and I think she will. Mrs. Rawlinson's sister always considered herself the champion, and I am sure Lottie," etc., etc. In short, by the time it occurred to anybody that Percival and Addie were talking together, their conversation, carried smoothly on, was precisely what anybody might hear. The Pickerings went off in one direction, the Blakes in another, and the young men resumed their walk. "That's over, and the governor not by," said Horace. "Don't be too secure," was Percival's reply. "Everybody talks about everybody else at Fordborough."