"You're rather a wonderful young woman," said the squire, still staring. She shook her head. "Oh, no, I'm not. I've just begun to use my brains, that's all. They're nothing at all out of the ordinary, really." He laughed. "Well, you've given me a pretty straight one anyway. Have you got a home anywhere--any home people?" "None that count," said Juliet. "Been more or less of a looker-on all your life, eh?" he suggested. "More or less," smiled Juliet. He held out his hand to her abruptly. "Look here! You're coming, aren't you?" "I don't know," said Juliet. "Well, make up your mind quick!" He held her hand, looking at her. "What's the objection? Tell me?" She freed her hand gently but with decision. "I can't tell you entirely. You must let me think. For one thing, I want more freedom of action than I should have as an inmate of your house. I want to come and go as I like. I've never really done that before, and I'm just beginning to enjoy it." "That's a selfish reason," said the squire, with a sudden boyish grin at her. She coloured slightly. "No, it isn't--or not wholly." "All right, it isn't. I unsay it. But that reason won't exist as far as you are concerned. You will come and go exactly as you like always. No one will question you." "You're very kind," said Juliet. He bowed to her ceremoniously. "That's the first really nice thing you have said to me. I must make a note of it. Now would you like my wife to call upon you? If so, I'll send her round to-morrow at twelve." "If she would care to come," said Juliet. "Of course she would. She shall come then--and you'll talk things over, and come to an understanding. That's settled, is it? Good-bye!" He turned to go, pausing at the gate to throw her another smiling farewell. She had not thought that gloomy, black browed countenance could look so genial. There was something curiously elusive, almost haunting, about his smile. "Columbus!" said Juliet. "I'm not sure that he's a very nice man, but there's something about him--something I can't quite place--that makes me wonder if I've met him somewhere before. Would you like to go and live at the Court, Columbus?" Columbus leaned against her knee in sentimental silence. He evidently did not care where he went so long as he was with the object of his whole-souled devotion. She stooped and kissed him between the eyes. "Dear doggie!" she murmured. "I wonder--are we happier--here?" CHAPTER VIII MRS. FIELDING When the great high-powered car from Shale Court stopped at the gate of the blacksmith's cottage on the following morning Mrs. Rickett, who was feeding her young chicks in the yard outside the forge, was thrown into a state of wild agitation. Everyone in Little Shale stood in awe of the squire's wife. She went nervously to enquire what was wanted, and met the chauffeur at the gate. "It's all right, Mrs. Rickett. Don't fluster yourself!" he said. "It's Miss Moore we're after. Go and tell her, will you?"