Not much the matter with him, is there?"
"Nothing now," Maud said.
"What does he do with himself?" asked the General, surveying the distant
figure at that moment galloping in a far corner of the field.
"He is agent on Lord Saltash's estate at Burchester," his daughter said,
suddenly entering the conversation. "He was telling me about it at
luncheon. He and Lord Saltash are friends."
"Ah! To be sure!" General Melrose's look suddenly came to Maud and she
felt herself colour a little.
"He is an old friend of the family," she said. "We live not far from the
Castle. My husband owns the Graydown Stables."
"Oh, I know that," the General said courteously. "I know your husband,
Mrs. Bolton, and I am proud to know him. What I did not know until to-day
was that he was your husband. I never heard of your marriage."
"We have been married for eight years," she said with a smile.
"It must be at least ten since I saw you last," he said. "This girl of
mine--Sheila--must have been at school in those days. You never met her?"
Maud turned to the girl. "I don't think we have ever met before," she
said. "Is this your first visit to Fairharbour?"
"My first visit, yes." Sheila leaned forward.
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