The motor-bicycle, with a push from Trevellyan, jolted slowly away along the slippery road, and John and Miss Jones stood facing one another by the indifferent light of the motor-lamps. Grace looked at him with her direct, gentle gaze. "Please tell me whether you really meant that," she said. "Does Lady Vivian want me at Plessing just the same?" "Yes," he answered, with equal directness. "She said so. She told me to bring you. She said she wanted you." Grace drew a long breath, then said: "We shall have to walk, sha'n't we?" "I'm afraid so--at least part of the way. Unless you'd rather stay in the car, and keep as warm as you can, while I go on to Questerham and try to get hold of something that will take us both out? I'm going back there, of course. Which shall we do, Miss Jones?" "Walk, I think. It's only about five miles, and I doubt if you could get anything tonight to go out all the way to Plessing." "I think we can go across the fields, if you don't mind rough walking. It saves nearly a mile, and the only advantage of keeping to the road would be the chance of meeting something, which I think most unlikely. Miss Jones, you're splendid. Do you mind very much?" "Not now that I know Lady Vivian really wants me," said Grace shyly. Trevellyan unhooked one of the lamps. "Shall I carry the other one?" "It will make your hands very cold, and I think one will be enough. Have you anything that you must take?" "My bag; it isn't heavy." "Right. Then give it to me, and you take the lamp, if you will." Grace obeyed without any of the protestations which might have appeared suitable, and they started very cautiously down the road. "Keep to the side," said Trevellyan; "it's not very bad there. I'm afraid you'll never get warm at this rate, but a broken leg would be awkward." "Tell me what happened at Plessing." He told her that Sir Piers had suddenly had a second stroke that afternoon, and was again lying unconscious. Lady Vivian had come down and spoken with Trevellyan for a few minutes, and assured him that the trained nurse would not allow her to relinquish hope. "But it all depends upon what one means by hope," said Trevellyan. "One can hardly bear to think of his lying there day after day, unable to understand or to make himself understood--and as for _her_--" "She is very brave," said Grace. There was a silence, and each was thinking of Joanna. Presently Trevellyan spoke again. "We shall turn off in a minute and take the short cut. Are you very cold?" "Pretty cold, but I'm glad I had dinner before starting. Did you?" "No, worse luck! I started from Plessing at half-past eight, and the servants were in such a fuss. I'm fearfully hungry," said Trevellyan candidly. "Well, wait a minute." Grace stood still and put the lamp on the ground while she felt in her coat-pocket. "I thought so. I've a packet of chocolate. Will you take it?" "Thank you," said Trevellyan seriously; "it's very kind of you. Let's both have some."