The Obstacle Race

ts crumbling square tower, disturbing once a week the jackdaws that built in the ivy. Just once a week ever since the Dark Ages, was Juliet's reflection as she dutifully obeyed the some

and another of immense size overhung the porch. The path was lined

the church. Then from behind her came the hoot of a motor-horn, and she glanced back to see a closed car that glittered at every angle swoop through the open gates and swerve round to

are pew under the pulpit. The other pews were modern and very bare, occupied sparsely by vil

down in a chair close to the porch. The entrance of the Court party was

very verge of the porch a voice spoke

choolmaster should be asked to lunch every Sunday,

uestion as he sat at the instrument. It occupied one side of the chancel and a crowd of village children congregated in the side pews immediately outside and under the eye of the org

man, delicate-looking, with a pretty, insolent face and expensive clothes, walk past, and was aware for a moment of a hau

sion she had ever seen. It was drawn down at the corners in a sneering curve, and a decided frown knitted his brows. He walke

trode on to the chancel, tapped the organist un

his pew still frowning, and the voluntary continued. He played with assurance but somewhat mechanically, and she presently realized that he was keeping a sharp eye on the schoolchildren at the same time. The service was a lengthy one and they needed supervision. T

took her utmost resolution to stay awake. Most of the congregation slept

through the hot, chequered sunlight she saw the shining car drawn up at the gate, and a young chauffeur waiting at the door. She glanced at him as she passed, and was surprised for a

heart to keep him any longer. But she could not face the full blaze of noon on the shore, and she turned back up the sh

morously, and just as she found her stile she saw Green come out dressed in flannels with a bath-towel round his neck. The boys swarmed all about him like

t they were all doing at that precise moment. She visualized the shifting, restless feverish throng with a vividness that embraced every detail. And she turned her face up to the tree-tops and revelled in her solitude. Only last week she had been in that seething whirlpool, borne helplessly hither and thither like dri

But somehow it seemed just as appropriate out here under the glorious beeches. She sat down on a mossy root and drank in the sweetnes

practically demolished, and then at last, failing in his quest, he

d ruffled his grizzled hair. "I'd be l

. "I wish we had brought some lunch with us," remarked his mistress.

gave her to understand that lunch really didn't matter. Then very suddenly he ext

the collar, for he had a disconcerting habit of barking round the legs of intruders if not wholly sati

o with a stick as he came. The frown still drew his for

s close upon her. Then, as Columbus tactlessly repea

eld so direct a question that she found herself compell

jerk. "You are not, madam," he s

ords. At close quarters she saw that he was older than she h

er to her. "I won't le

does," remarked Mr. Fielding, and

between his pricked ears. "What a sweet man, Columbus!"

time for her to be wending her own way back to the village. She gave him ample opportunity to clear the w

ny great relish, for her prophetic soul warned her that it would not be of a very dainty order,

were evidently standing there, and she realized with something like dismay that the way was blocked. She waited for a moment o

rew nearer, she recognized the squire'

fellow! I shouldn't ask you

curt it had a ring of humour. "Thank you, sir. An

quire's voice again, loud and explosive:

rounded a curve in the path and

nce of recognition. Mr. Fielding had his back to her, and

th a resentful stare as she mounted the stile, and Ju

d to assist her. "Good morning, Miss Moore! Ex

d his hair shone wet in the strong sunlight. His manner was absolutely easy and assured. She met his smiling

ate in my choice to-day either," she sa

It's a time-honoured custom, isn't it, Mr.

she had done all that was necessary in that quarter, and that

I wasn't too hospitable just now," he said. "It's this fell

w that the dour visage was actually smiling at

bow, "I will introduce you to her. You will then be e

e!" said

rst time. "If anyone apologiz

Green. "With m

ou directly, you unspeakable pedant! What should you take hi

ion to intimacy. She looked at Green whose dark eyes laughed str

e to place him yet. But it's a little difficult to

. "That sounds romantic

oore, attracted by the scent of my cigarette,-that's right, isn't it?"-he flung her an audacious challenge with uplifted brows-"when Miss Moore attracted as I say, by the alluring scent of my cigarette, fell over the edge and joined me. My gallantry consisted in detaining her there, af

eat such a buffoon as you seriously, she wouldn't. I hop

ery grateful." She smiled at the squire. "Good-bye! I must be

occurred to her that there could be anything really pleasant hidden behind that grim exterior. It was evident that the younger ma