"You see that as well, do you?" said the colonel. "Why don't you tell her so?" and having said it, seemed to pull himself up suddenly, as if he felt he had been unconsciously impetuous. Arbuthnot laughed. His smile had died completely away, however, when he gave his side glance at his companion's face a moment later. "She was quite serious in her intention of going away two weeks ago," he said. "She told me so; nothing but Richard's dinner-party prevented her departure in the first place." He spoke in an entirely non-committal tone, but there was a touch of interest in his quiet glance at Tredennis. "You dined there with Planefield and the rest, didn't you?" he added. "Yes." "I didn't. Richard was kind enough to invite me, but I should only have been in the way." He paused an instant, and then added, without any change of tone or manner, "I know nothing of the Westoria lands." "Was it necessary that you should?" said Tredennis. "I did not." "Oh," Arbuthnot answered, "I knew they would discuss them, and the bill, as it pleases Amory to be interested in them just now." "I remember that the matter was referred to several times," said Tredennis; "even Mrs. Amory seemed to know a good deal of it." "A good deal!" said Arbuthnot. "In favor of the bill?" "Yes," Tredennis answered. "She had been reading up, it appeared. She said some very good things about it--in a laughing way. Why does she waste her time and strength on such folly?" he added, hotly. "Why--why is she allowed to do it?" "The New England farm would be better for her just now," said Arbuthnot--again adroitly. "Why should Amory waste his time upon it?" the colonel went on; "though that is his affair, of course, and not mine!" They had reached the gate by this time, but they did not pass through it. Finding themselves near it, they turned--as if by mutual consent, and yet without speaking of doing so--into the walk nearest them. It was after taking a few steps in silence down this path, that Colonel Tredennis spoke again, abruptly: "When I was thinking of you just before we met," he said, "I was thinking of you in connection with--with the Amorys." He knew the statement had a blunt enough sound, and his recognition of it irritated him, but he was beginning to be accustomed to his own bluntness of statement, and, at any rate, this led him to the point he meant to reach. Arbuthnot's reply was characteristic. It was not blunt at all, and had an air of simple directness, which was the result not only of a most creditable tact and far-sightedness, but of more private good feeling and sincerity than he was usually credited with. "I am always glad to be thought of in connection with the Amorys," he said. "And I am glad that it is perfectly natural that I should be connected with them in the minds of their friends. There has been a very close connection between us for several years, and I hope they have found as much pleasure in it as I have."