The odd,
sweet beauty of her had him in thrall. She was so totally different from
everyone else he had ever encountered. He felt the lure of her more and
more with every meeting, the wonder and the charm.
But Sheila did not want him to marry her, and a very natural feeling of
irritation against her possessed him in consequence. Doubtless Sheila had
a perfect right to her opinions, but she might keep them to herself.
Between Saltash's headlong resolve to help and Sheila's veiled desire to
hinder, he felt that his course was becoming too complicated, as if in
spite of his utmost efforts to guide his own craft there were contrary
currents at work that he was powerless to avoid.
He had an urgent desire for Toby that afternoon, and he was inclined
somewhat unreasonably to resent her absence. But when at length the hoot
of the General's car warned him of his visitors' advent as they turned in
at the gate, he was suddenly conscious of a feeling of relief that he was
alone. Toby was not at her ease with them. She fancied they disapproved
of her, and whether the fancy were justified or not he was glad that she
was not there to meet them. He determined to get the business over as
quickly as possible.
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