I do not wish to frighten her."

John Derringham rose leisurely and went to the further side of the oak,
where sure enough there was a drooping branch and he was soon up beside
her, dangling his long limbs as he sat in a fork.

"What an enchanting bower you have found," he said. "Away from all the
world."

"No indeed, that cannot be at this time of the year," she answered.
"See, there is a squirrel far up in the top and there are birds, and
look--down there at the roots there is a rabbit hole with such a family
in it. It is only in the winter you can be alone--and not even then, for
you know there are the moles even if you cannot see them."

"Creatures are interesting to watch, aren't they?" he said. "I have an
old place which I loved when I was a boy. It is let now because I am too
poor to live in it, but I used to like to prowl about in the early
mornings long ago."

"We are all very poor," said Halcyone simply, "but I am sorry for you
that you have to let strangers be in your house--that must be dreadful."

John Derringham smiled, and his face lost the _insouciante_ arrogance
which irritated his enemies so. His smile, rare enough, was singularly
sweet.

"I don't think about it," he said. "It is best not to when anything is
disagreeable."