"Rather, of your behavior--especially about Margaret. He's enthusiastic about that--he thinks it splendidly brave. In case he decided against calling, he wanted you to know that." "He would have decided against it?" "I can't tell. He meant to think it over." "I came down just by accident. I was going for a stroll when I saw you. And I came down on the chance--the chance of something amusing, Austin." She frowned a little. "I don't think I much like Mr. Dormer." "Rather a conceited fellow." She broke into a smile again. "But he may come in very convenient." "To his own profit and comfort?" "I think conceited people must take the chance of that. They expose themselves." "To being robbed of their farms by deceitful wiles?" "He'd get a very good price for his farms," said Jenny. I do not think that her mind had been occupied with the question of the farms. She was looking thoughtful again. "I don't think I quarrel with what Lord Fillingford said," she added. "Not unnatural perhaps." "I've never had any quarrel with Lord Fillingford," she said slowly. "Or only one--a woman's quarrel. He never fell in love with me. If he had, perhaps--!" She shrugged her shoulders. "But all that sort of thing is over now." "Did it look so like it this afternoon?" "Didn't we agree that I was--marriageable? Didn't you say that being marriageable was an asset--even though one didn't marry?" She came suddenly closer to me. "I've no right to ask you to trust me. I didn't trust you--I deceived you deliberately, carefully, grossly--and yet I expected you to help me--and took your help with very little thanks. Still--you stayed. Stay now, and don't think too badly." "I don't think badly at all--why, you know it! But I must have my fun out of it." "So you shall, Austin!" she laughed, with one of her sudden transitions to gayety. "I'm the fox, and you're the huntsman! Well, I'll try to give you a good run for your money--if you can follow the scent!" "Through all your doubles?" "Through all the doubles that lead me to my--earth!" A dainty merry little face looked in at my window. "Oh, I've tracked you at last, Jenny!" "Is everybody tracking me?" asked Jenny, her eyes mischievously mocking. "Run round to the door and come in, Margaret." She added quickly to me, "I'm glad she didn't come when they were here. I'm saving her up till to-morrow!" The child came in and ran to Jenny. "Oh, what a delightful little room, Mr. Austin! Did my father ever come here?" "Yes, pretty often," I answered. "We were friends, you know." "Yes, and he hadn't many friends. Had he, Jenny?" Jenny stooped down and kissed her. "Come, we'll go for our walk--to look at Hatcham Ford," she said. "Shall we go inside?" "It's all shut up," said Jenny. CHAPTER XX LIVING PIECES