That was to be his
programme. He must just try to be grateful for a clear line of
action. If he had had nothing but Cambridge to depend upon, it
would have been still worse. Now he must settle down to county
business if he could, and clear his mind of all foolish regrets.
Love and marriage--he was ten years too late! He had dawdled on,
taking the line of least resistance, and he was now revealed to
himself in a true and unsparing light. He paced swiftly on, and
presently entered the wood. His feet fell soft on the grassy road
among the coverts.
Suddenly, as he turned a corner, he saw a little open glade to the
right. A short way up the glade stood two figures--Guthrie and
Maud--engaged in conversation. They were standing facing each
other. She seemed to be expostulating with him in a laughing way;
he stood bareheaded, holding his hat in his hand, eagerly defending
himself. The pose of the two seemed to show an easy sort of
comradeship. Maud was holding a stick in both hands behind her, and
half resting upon it. They seemed entirely absorbed in what they
were saying. Howard could not bear to intrude upon the scene. He
fell back among the trees, retraced his steps, and then sat down on
a grassy bank, a little off the path, and waited. It was the last
confirmation of his fears. It was not quite a lover-like scene, but
they evidently understood each other, and were wholly at their ease
together, while Guthrie's admiring and passionate look did not
escape him.
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