with aching eyes he shut up the stained and tattered volume； and at
last； just as the day was breaking； fell asleep。
At eleven o'clock on that same morning； for he had slept late； Alan
rose from his breakfast and went to smoke his pipe at the open door of
the beautiful old hall in Yarleys that was clad with brown Elizabethan
oak for which any dealer would have given hundreds of pounds。 It was a
charming morning； one of those that comes to us sometimes in an
English April when the air is soft like that of Italy and the smell of
the earth rises like that of incense； and little clouds float idly
across a sky of tender blue。 Standing thus he looked out upon the park
where the elms already showed a tinge of green and the ash…buds were
coal black。 Only the walnuts and the great oaks； some of them pollards
of a thousand years of age； remained stark and stern in their winter
dress。
Alan was in a reflective mood and involuntarily began to wonder how
many of his forefathers had stood in that same spot upon such April
mornings and looked out upon those identical trees wakening in the
breath of spring。 Only the trees and the landscape knew； those trees
which had seen every one of them borne to baptism； to bridal and to
burial。 The men and women themselves were forgotten。 Their portraits；
each in the garb of his or her generation； hung here and there upon
the walls of the ancient house which once they had owned or inhabited；
but who remembered anything of them to…day？ In many cases their names
even were lost； for believing that they； so important in their time；
could never sink into oblivion； they had not thought it necessary to
record them upon their pictures。
And now the thing was coming to an end。 Unless in this way or in that
he could save it； what remained of the old place； for the outlying
lands had long since been sold； must go to the hammer and become the
property of some pushing and successful person who desired to found a
family； and perhaps in days to be would claim these very pictures that
hung upon the walls as those of his own ancestors； declaring that he
had brought in the estate because he was a relative of the ancient and
ruined race。
Well； it was the way of the world； and perhaps it must be so； but the
thought of it made Alan Vernon sad。 If he could have continued that
business； it might have been otherwise。 By this hour his late
partners； Sir Robert Aylward and Mr。 Champers…Haswell； were doubtless
sitting in their granite office in the City； probably in consultation
with Lord Specton； who had taken his place upon the Board of the great
Company which was being subscribed that day。 No doubt applications for
shares were pouring in by the early posts and by telegram； and from
time to time Mr。 Jeffreys respectfully reported their number and
amount； while Sir Robert looked unconcerned and Mr。 Haswell rubbed his
hands and whistled cheerfully。 Almost he could envy them； these men
who were realizing great fortunes amidst the bustle and excitement of
that fierce financial life； whilst he stood penniless and stared at
the trees and the ewes which wandered among them with their lambs； he
who； after all his work； was but a failure。 With a sigh he turned away
to fetch his cap and go out walkingthere was a tenant whom he must
see； a shifty； new…fangled kind of man who was always clamouring for
fresh buildings and reductions in his rent。 How was he to pay for more
buildings？ He must put him off； or let him go。
Just then a sharp sound caught his ear； that of an electric bell。 It
came from the telephone which； since he had been a member of a City
firm； he had caused to be put into Yarleys at considerable expense in
order that he might be able to communicate with the office in London。
〃Were they calling him up from force of habit？〃 he wondered。 He went
to the instrument which was fixed in a little room he used as a study；
and took down the receiver。
〃Who is it？〃 he asked。 〃I am Yarleys。 Alan Vernon。〃
〃And I am Barbara；〃 came the answer。 〃How are you； dear？ Did you sleep
well？〃
〃No； very badly。〃
〃NervesAlan； you have got nerves。 Now although I had a worse day
than you did； I went to bed at nine； and protected by a perfect
conscience； slumbered till nine this morning； exactly twelve hours。
Isn't it clever of me to think of this telephone； which is more than
you would ever have done？ My uncle has departed to London vowing that
no letter from you shall enter this house； but he forgot that there is
a telephone in every room； and in fact at this moment I am speaking
round by his office within a yard or two of his head。 However； he
can't hear； so that doesn't matter。 My blessing be on the man who
invented telephones； which hitherto I have always thought an awful
nuisance。 Are you feeling cheerful； Alan？〃
〃Very much the reverse；〃 he answered； 〃never was more gloomy in my
life； not even when I thought I had to die within six hours of
blackwater fever。 Also I have lots that I want to talk to you about
and I can't do it at the end of this confounded wire that your uncle
may be tapping。〃
〃I thought it might be so；〃 answered Barbara； 〃so I just rang you up
to wish you good…morning and to say that I am coming over in the motor
to lunch with my maid Snell as chaperone。 All right； don't
remonstrate； I /am coming/ over to lunchI can't hear younever mind
what people will say。 I am coming over to lunch at one o'clock； mind
you are in。 Good…bye； I don't want much to eat； but have something for
Snell and the chauffeur。 Good…bye。〃
Then the wire went dead； nor could all Alan's 〃Hello's〃 and 〃Are you
there's？〃 extract another syllable。
Having ordered the best luncheon that his old housekeeper could
provide Alan went off for his walk in much better spirits； which were
further improved by his success in persuading the tenant to do without
the new buildings for another year。 In a year； he reflected； anything
might happen。 Then he returned by the wood where a number of new…
felled oaks lay ready for barking。 This was not a cheerful sight； it
seemed so cruel to kill the great trees just as they were pushing
their buds for another summer of life。 But he consoled himself by
recalling that they had been too crowded and that the timber was
really needed on the estate。 As he reached the house again carrying a
bunch of white violets which he had plucked in a sheltered place for
Barbara； he perceived a motor travelling at much more than the legal
speed up the walnut avenue which was the pride of the place。 In it sat
that young lady herself； and her maid； Snell； a middle…aged woman with
whom； as it chanced； he was on very good terms； as once； at some
trouble to himself； he had been able to do her a kindness。
The motor pulled up at the front door and out of it sprang Barbara；
laughing pleasantly and looking fresh and charming as the spring
itself。
〃There will be a row over this； dear；〃 said Alan； shaking his head
doubtfully when at last they were alone together in the hall。
〃Of course； there'll be a row；〃 she answered。 〃I mean that there
should be a row。 I mean to have a row every day if necessary； until
they leave me alone to follow my own road； and if they won't； as I
said； to go to the Court of Chancery for protection。 Oh！ by the way； I
have brought you a copy of /The Judge/。 There's a most awful article
in it about that Sahara flotation； and among other things it announces
that you have left the firm and congratulates you upon having done
so。〃
〃They'll think I have put it in；〃 groaned Alan as he glanced at the
head lines； which were almost libellous in their vigour； and the
summaries of the financial careers of Sir Robert Aylward and Mr。
Champers…Haswell。 〃It will make them hate me more than ever； and I
say； Barbara； we can't live in an atmosphere of perpetual warfare for
the next two years。〃
〃I can； if need be；〃 answered that determined young woman。 〃But I
admit that it would be trying for you； if you stay here。〃
〃That's just the point； Barbara。 I must not stay here； I must go away；
the further the better； until you are your own mistress。〃
〃Where to； Alan？〃
〃To West Africa； I think。〃
〃To West Africa？〃 repeated Barbara； her voice trembling a little。
〃After that treasure； Alan？〃
〃Yes； Barbara。 But first come and have your lunch； then we will talk。
I have got lots to tell and show you。〃
So they lunched； speaking of indifferent things； for the servant was
there waiting on them。 Just as they were finishing their meal Jeekie
entered the room carrying a box and a large envelope addressed to his
master； which he said had been sent by special messenger from the
office in London。
〃What's in the box？〃 asked Alan； looking somewhat nervously at the
envelope； which was addressed in a writing that he knew。
〃Don't know for certain； Major；〃 answered Jeekie； 〃but think Little
Bonsa； think I smell her through wood。〃
〃Well； look and see；〃 replied Alan； while he broke the seal of the
envelope and drew out its contents。 They proved to be sundry documents
sent by the firm's lawyers； among which were a notice of the formal
dissolution of partnership to be approved by him before it appeared in
the /Gazette/； a second notice calling in a mortgage for fifteen
thousand and odd pounds on Yarleys； which as a matter of business had
been taken over by the firm while he was a partner； a cash account
showing a small balance against him； and finally a receipt for him to
sign acknowledging the return of the gold image that was his property。
〃You see；〃 said Alan with a sigh； pushing over the papers to Barbara；
who read them carefully one by one。
〃I see；〃 she answered presently。 〃It is war to the knife。 Alan； I hate
the idea of it； but perhaps you had better go away。 While you are here
they will harass the life out of you。〃
Meanwhile with the aid of a big jack…knife and the dining…room poker；
Jeekie had prized off the lid of the box。 Chancing to look round
Barbara saw him on his knees muttering something in a strange tongue；
and bowing his white head until it touched an object that lay within
the box。
〃What are you doing； Jeekie？〃 she asked。
〃Make bow to Little Bonsa； Miss Barbara； tell her how glad I