Just then this very fortunate fellow came in. His face, dull enough as he entered, lighted up at sight of a visitor, and fell again when Collingwood explained that his visit was a mere flying one, and that he was returning to London that night. Collingwood led him on to the project which he had mentioned at his previous visit--the making of golf links in the park, and pointed out, as a devotee of the sport, what a fine course could be made. Before he left he had succeeded in arousing like interest in Harper--he promised to go into the matter, and to employ a man whom Collingwood recommended as an expert in laying out golf courses. "You'll have got your greens in something like order by this time next year, if you start operations soon," said Collingwood. "And then, if I settle down at Barford, I'll come out now and then, if you'll let me." "Let you!" exclaimed Harper. "By Jove!--we're only too glad to have anybody out here--aren't we, Nesta?" "We shall always be glad to see Mr. Collingwood," said Nesta. Collingwood went away with that last intimation warm in his memory. He had an idea that the girl meant what she said--and for a moment he was sorry that he was going to India. He might have settled down at Barford there and then, and--but at that he laughed at himself. "A young woman with several thousands a year of her own!" he said. "Of course, she'll marry some big pot in the county. They feel a little lonely, those two, just now, because everything's new to them, and they're new to their changed circumstances. But when I get back--ah!--I guess they'll have got plenty of people around them." And he determined, being a young man of sense, not to think any more--for already he had thought a good deal of Nesta Mallathorpe, until he returned from his Indian travels. Let him attend to his business, and leave possibilities until they came nearer. "All the same." he mused, as he drew near the town again, "I'm pretty sure I shall come back here next spring--I feel like it." He called in at Eldrick's office on his way to the hotel, to take some documents which had been preparing for him. It was then late in the afternoon, and no one but Pratt was there--Pratt, indeed, had been waiting until Collingwood called. "Going back to town, Mr. Collingwood?" asked Pratt as he handed over a big envelope. "When shall we have the pleasure of seeing you again, sir?" Something in the clerk's tone made Collingwood think--he could not tell why--that Pratt was fishing for information. And--also for reasons which he could not explain--Collingwood had taken a curious dislike to Pratt, and was not inclined to give him any confidence. "I don't know," he answered, a little icily. "I am leaving for India next week." He bade the clerk a formal farewell and went off, and Pratt locked the office door and slowly followed him downstairs. "To India!" he said to himself, watching the young barrister's retreating figure. "To India, eh? For a time--or for--what?"