But as soon as Sir George's gaze fell on her, her look met his frankly and she smiled; and then again her eyes dropped and studied the road before her, and she blushed in a way Soane found enchanting.

He had been going into the town, but he turned and went to her and sat down on the bridge beside her, almost with the air of an old acquaintance.

He opened the conversation by saying that it was a prodigious fine day; she agreed.

That the Downs were uncommonly healthy; she said the same.

And then there was silence.
'Well ?' he said after a while; and he looked at her.
'Well ?' she answered in the same tone.