still, trying not to see or hear, and in the corn opposite to her a rabbit stole along, crouched, and peeped. 'Oh!' she thought, 'come out here, bunny. I'll let you away—can't you see I will? It's your only chance. Come out!' But the rabbit crouched, and gazed, with its little cowed head poked forward, and its ears laid flat; it seemed trying to understand whether this still thing in front of it was the same as those others. With the thought, 'Of course it won't while I look at it,' Noel turned her head away. Out of the corner of her eye she could see a man standing a few yards off. The rabbit bolted out. Now the man would shout and turn it. But he did not, and the rabbit scuttled past him and away to the hedge. She heard a shout from the end of the row, saw a dog galloping. Too late! Hurrah! And clasping her hands, she looked at the man. It was Fort! With the queerest feeling—amazement, pleasure, the thrill of conspiracy, she saw him coming up to her. “I did want that rabbit to get off,” she sighed out; “I've been watching it. Thank you!” He looked at her. “My goodness!” was all he said. Noel's hands flew up to her cheeks. “Yes, I know; is my nose very red?” “No; you're as lovely as Ruth, if she was lovely.” Swish-swish! The cutter came by; Noel started forward to her place in the row; but catching her arm, he said: “No, let me do this little bit. I haven't had a day in the fields since the war began. Talk to me while I'm binding.” She stood watching him. He made a different, stronger twist from hers, and took larger sheaves, so that she felt a sort of jealousy. “I didn't know you knew about this sort of thing.” “Oh, Lord, yes! I had a farm once out West. Nothing like field-work, to make you feel good. I've been watching you; you bind jolly well.” Noel gave a sigh of pleasure. “Where have you come from?” she asked. “Straight from the station. I'm on my holiday.” He looked up at her, and they both fell silent. Swish-swish! The cutter was coming again. Noel went to the beginning of her portion of the falling corn, he to the end of it. They worked towards each other, and met before the cutter was on them a third time. “Will you come in to supper?” “I'd love to.” “Then let's go now, please. I don't want to see any more rabbits killed.” They spoke very little on the way to the bungalow, but she felt his eyes on her all the time. She left him with George and Gratian who had just come in, and went up for her bath.