Instinctively Geoffrey lost hold on his own purpose.

Something warned him to go warily.
By way of starting conversation he began to tell her of his own adventure on the lake--of the dumb woman among the trees, whom he had seen and spoken to, without reply.

Helena was only moderately interested.

It was some village woman passing through the wood, she supposed.

Very likely the searchlight frightened her, and she knew she had no business there in June when there were young pheasants about-- "Nobody's started preserving again yet--" put in Geoffrey.
"Old Fenn told me yesterday that there were lots of wild ones," said Helena languidly.