He strode away, disappearing quickly from sight over the brow of a hill,
and with a small sigh of contentment she tucked her feet under her on the
improvised cushion and lit a cigarette. She had had a busy morning, and was
really more tired than she knew. First of all there had been the car to
clean, then there were flowers to be arranged for the house, and after
that various small shopping errands had cropped up, so that Ann had found
herself very fully occupied until at length, accompanied by Sir Philip,
Lady Susan had departed for Evian. She wondered fugitively how the pair
were enjoying themselves.

It was very pleasant sitting there. The huge boulder against which she
leant sheltered her from the wind and the spot was bathed in brilliant
sunshine. She finished her cigarette and lapsed into a brown study
provoked by Tony's sudden question: "What will happen if one day you--or
Robin--should get married?" She had never asked herself that question. It
was so much an understood thing between brother and sister that, as soon as
Robin found a sufficiently remunerative post, they should live together,
that any alternative had not entered her head.

But now she came to think of it, of course it was quite possible that
Robin might some day meet the woman whom he would want to marry. Her mouth
twisted in a little wry grimace of distaste. She was sure she should detest
any woman who robbed her of her brother. And if such a thing happened, she
would certainly take herself off and live somewhere else. Nothing would
ever induce her to remain in a married brother's house--an unwanted third.

There would always be one avenue of escape open to her, she reflected
ironically--by way of her own marriage with Tony. She wished it were
possible to fall in love to order! It would simplify things so much. As
Tony's wife she felt sure she could keep him straight and so fulfil the