She turned towards Martin Trevor with a greeting in her eyes. But to her
surprise she saw that he had fallen back. The Rector had fallen back
too, and the two men stood together, as when she had first come up to
them.

Joanna realized that she had missed the chance of an introduction. Well,
it didn't matter. She really couldn't endure Mr. Pratt and his ghastly
gratitude. She put her stiffest bow into practice and walked on.

For the rest of the day she tried to account for young Trevor's mid-week
appearance. Her curiosity was soon satisfied, though she was at a
disadvantage in having no male to bring her news from the Woolpack.
However, she made good use of other people's males, and by the same
evening was possessed of the whole story. Martin Trevor had been ill in
London with pleurisy, and the doctor said his lungs were in danger and
that he must give up office work and lead an open-air life. He was going
to live with his father for a time, and help him farm North Farthing
House--they were taking in a bit more land there, and buying sheep.




§4

That October the Farmers' Club Dinner was held as usual at the Woolpack.
There had been some controversy about asking Joanna--there was
controversy every year, but this year the difference lay in the issue,
for the ayes had it.

The reasons for this change were indefinite--on the whole, no doubt, it