She thought then, as she thought now, only of the kindness of her father's action, and for the first week of Hine's visit that thought remained with her.

She was on the alert, but nothing occurred to arouse in her a suspicion.

There were no cards, little wine was drunk, and early hours were kept by the whole household.

Indeed, Garratt Skinner left entirely to his daughter the task of entertaining his guest; and although once he led them both over the great down to Dorchester and back, at a pace which tired his companions out, he preferred, for the most part, to smoke his pipe in a hammock in the garden with a novel at his side.

The morning after that one expedition, he limped out into the garden, rubbing the muscles of his thigh.
"You must look after Wallie, my dear," he said.