CHAPTER XI

AN EVENING WALK

"A proper man, as one can see in a summer's day."

Midsummer's Night's Dream.

"He hath indeed bettered expectation."

Much Ado About Nothing.

EDEN had plenty of food for thought as she walked down the long country road in the direction of the Log Hut and Heatherwood; there was something tragic and pitiful in the story she had just heard, that touched her woman's sensibility to the quick.

"Oh, the pity of it!" she kept saying over and over to herself; "the needless cruelty and heartlessness of it all!" And then, as she thought of the blighted life of those two men-one sinning, and one sinned against she felt a

sense of loathing against the woman who had been their baneful influence.

And Madelon was Bonnie's mother; then, as

Eden pondered over this grim complication, she had a sudden curious revulsion of feeling, as though some inward foreboding, some presentiment of evil, troubled her.

"How foolish I am!" she thought, trying to rouse herself from this mood. "I suppose

uncanny

that story has taken hold of me too strongly." And then she tried to shake off her oppression, and to enjoy the beauty of the summer evening.

It was rather a lonely stretch of road she was traversing, with meadows and enclosed grounds on one side, and a dark fir-wood on the other. Towards evening it was somewhat solitary; few vehicles passed, and one rarely met a human being —unless it were a labourer returning home after his day's work, or a child sent on some errand to the village.

Most people would have found the stillness and solitude somewhat oppressive; but Eden had excellent nerves, and she was accustomed to the country, and no fear of tramps crossed her mind. The crackling of the brambles and the rustle of dry leaves in the little wood did not even make her start; it was only when she heard quick footsteps behind her that she turned her head. To

her surprise, it was Mr. Redford. He was in his old velveteen coat, and carried a gun, and a couple

of

grey rabbits dangled limply over one shoulder ; a beautiful brown-and-white retriever was with him. Eden fully expected him to pass her, but, to her great astonishment, he paused at her side.

"It is rather late for you to be in the woodlands," he said gravely; and Eden fancied his tone expressed disapprobation.

"I have been having tea with Mrs. Ferard," returned Eden hurriedly-the sudden apparition of the Squire had rather flurried her. Her mind had been so full of him and his troubles that his unexpected appearance somewhat discomposed her. "I did not expect to be quite so late; but we were talking, and the time passed."

"After seven the woodlands are a little lonely," observed the Squire, " and it is nearly eight now. Chief, lad, come to heel, and leave the rabbits alone. Five minutes ago I saw a couple of rather rough-looking navvies pass; they were evidently bound for The Three Crows.' They had already had a little too much, and were rather noisy. It would not be pleasant for a lady to encounter them."