She ignored his question and asked another. "Why is everybody saying that you are engaged?" He lifted his shoulders. "Because everybody is more or less of a gossiping fool, I should say. Still," he threw up his head with a laugh, "notions of that sort have their uses. My grandfather for instance is firmly of the opinion that I have come home to be married. I didn't undeceive him." "You let him believe--what wasn't true?" said Avery slowly. He looked straight at her, with his head flung back. "I did. It suited my purpose. I wanted to get home. He thought it was because the Roses had returned to Wardenhurst. I let him think so. It certainly was deadly without them." It was then that Avery turned and began quietly to walk on up the hill. He linked his arm in Pompey's bridle, and walked beside her. She spoke after a few moments with something of constraint. "And how have you been--amusing yourself?" "I?" Carelessly he made reply. "I have been playing around with Ina Rose chiefly--to save us both from boredom." There sounded a faint jeering note behind the carelessness of his voice. Avery quickened her pace almost unconsciously. "It's all right," said Piers. "There's been no damage done." "You don't know that," said Avery, without looking at him. "Yes, I do. She'll marry Dick Guyes. I told her she would the night before they left, and she didn't say she wouldn't. He's a much better chap than I am, you know," said Piers, with an odd touch of sincerity. "And he's head over ears in love with her into the bargain." "Are you trying to excuse yourself?" said Avery. He laughed. "What for? For not marrying Ina Rose? I assure you I never meant to marry her." "For trifling with her." Avery's voice was hard, but he affected not to notice. "A game's a game," he said lightly. Avery stopped very suddenly and faced round upon him. "That sort of game," she said, and her voice throbbed with the intensity of her indignation, "is monstrous--is contemptible--a game that none but blackguards ever stoop to play!" Piers stood still. "Great Scott!" he said softly. Avery swept on. Once roused, she was ruthless in her arraignment. "Men--some men--find it amusing to go through life breaking women's hearts just for the sport of the thing. They regard it as a pastime, in the same light as fox-hunting or cards or racing. And when the game is over, they laugh among themselves and say what fools women are. And so they may be, and so they are, many of them. But is it honourable, is it manly, to take advantage of their weakness? I never thought you were that sort. I thought you were at least honest." "Did you?" said Piers.