"I'll go on trying," said Dunn, and it grew to be quite a custom
between them for Deede Dawson to ask him how he was getting on
with the problem; and for Dunn to reply that he was still searching
for the key move.

Several times little errands took Dunn into the village, where,
discreetly listening to the current gossip, he learned that Mr.
John Clive of Ramsdon Place had been injured in an attack made upon
him by a gang of ferocious poachers--at least a dozen in number
--but was making good progress towards recovery.

Also, he found that Mr. John Clive's visits to Bittermeads had not
gone unremarked, or wholly uncriticized, since there was a vague
feeling that a Mr. Clive of Ramsdon Place ought to make a better
match.

"But a pretty face is all a young man thinks of," said the more
experienced; and on the whole, it seemed to be felt that the open
attention Clive paid to Ella was at least easily to be understood.

Almost the first visit Clive paid, when he was allowed to venture
out, was to Bittermeads; and Dunn, returning one afternoon from an
errand, found him established on the lawn in the company of Ella,
and looking little the worse for his adventure.

He and Ella seemed to be talking very animatedly, and Dunn took the
opportunity to busy himself with some gardening work not far away,
so that he could watch their behaviour.