"Oh no," she said, with a shrug, "it will be all right; only you had
better lunch here, that's all, because I want to start early, and go
to an old woman's at the other end of Honham about some fuchsia
cuttings."

"I shall be very happy," said he.

"Very well then, that is settled," said Mr. Quest, "and now I must get
my plans and be off to the vestry meeting. I'm late as it is. With
your permission, Mr. Cossey, I will order the dogcart as I pass your
rooms."

"Certainly," said Edward, and in another moment the lawyer was gone.

Mrs. Quest watched the door close and then sat down in a low armchair,
and resting her head upon the back, looked up with a steady, enquiring
gaze, full into Edward Cossey's face.

And he too looked at her and thought what a beautiful woman she was,
in her own way. She was very small, rounded in her figure almost to
stoutness, and possessed the tiniest and most beautiful hands and
feet. But her greatest charm lay in the face, which was almost
infantile in its shape, and delicate as a moss rose. She was
exquisitely fair in colouring--indeed, the darkest things about her
were her violet eyes, which in some lights looked almost black by
contrast with her white forehead and waving auburn hair.

Presently she spoke.

"Has my husband gone?" she said.