herself as a fine looking and decidedly young woman with an independent air which suggested the it could easily be seen and by a less observant person than that would be known as mrs s husband when the ring was on the lady s finger his chin betrayed a rather weak nature and his eyes had much too a look in them to hint at mastery while the the lost tall black young woman who swung toward the group with the air of conquering appeared quite capable of an empire much less a husband did not envy s approaching bliss mr miss said the squire introducing his friend to the new arrival miss is the daughter of our doctor at the mention of her father and wondered why she should however the emotion passed in a flash and miss the much as a a under the the with which she concluded her scrutiny hinted at dissatisfaction if not at contempt but then as an ardent never did think much of the male and straightway flew her colors in the face of this particular one i am going to to speak at a meeting squire have i your good wishes that you will come home safe and sound with twinkling eyes you have don t insult the crowd more than you can help miss i shall not conceal my opinions retorted the lady her lips ah looked her up and down in that case i am glad mr and his car will be at hand to rescue you i can fight my own battles said miss coolly but i see that you don t believe in for women my dear lady replied smoothly when i am in your presence believe in anything you like to advance she observed men never can give a straight answer i only wish she continued as she turned to that i could with my but she won t the banner and in her tent i am afraid that i have exhausted all my power in her to join me as my future wife said the squire politely nodded her approval s a nice girl and a good girl and a very pretty girl she said in her deep toned voice but she is as weak as any man in this village as weak as you are squire as the as my father and you know what he is she again then turned on but i can t stay here all day as the meeting at is waiting five miles you must do it in five minutes what about the police asked i despise the police cried miss as she was borne away hurriedly by her lover to prevent further trouble they know me looked leisurely after the machine until it vanished and s trumpet tones of defiance died away what an uncomfortable woman he observed turning toward his friend oh s a good sort said she s had heaps of trouble it doesn t seem to have knocked much sense into her anyway trouble bother i see her father i expect the squire looked astonished yes but how you guessed i saw her when you and she mentioned dr explained the the lost they crossed the green passing an ancient cross of worn stone which stood in the of a vast expanse of grass burnt brown with the long enduring heat round the square were various cottages with white washed walls and roofs each standing in its own tiny garden brilliant with flowers the inn with the arms of the family swinging from a was the largest building in sight and presented an attractive sight to an artist since it dated from times and its upper story the lower with its red roof and dark beams deeply in its flint and stone walls it caught the eye of straightway he had seen it before but its quaint beauty him again to contemplation that s a delightful old inn he said looking backward as they passed out of the square quite the place for an adventure there are no adventures in replied the squire heavily we are very dull people is our bright and shining light as he goes in for old and ancient buildings and queer customs and in a word is an interrupted who somewhat and who is if we had gone to church yesterday you would have seen him in the pulpit he is the and if you don t mind being blamed for we are going to look him up now oh i don t mind in the least said the briskly if he talks religion i can talk science argument is always amusing with a i don t think is a he is of his than of his profession but he s all right as a parson although he doesn t visit his as often as i could wish yonder s the church where all my people are buried picturesque the gave the building his g ve approval but everything is picturesque about here in the best style of art you ought to be happy i am very happy but i shall be happier when i marry amen to that and let me be your best man said gaily if doesn t mind yes replied matter of fact chapter ii the by this time the squire and his friend were approaching a five barred gate which stood wide open as the hinges being useless it could not easily be shut passing through this they advanced up a wide drive overgrown with grass and this dismal path conducted them to a stony expanse by an flowers shrubs trees and were all mixed up together in a way suggesting only too clearly the s garden and almost presented an aspect of decay the thoroughly matched this desolation although in skilful hands it could have been made into a most charming residence viewed this deadly solitude with disgust are you taking me to see the 