This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXXI THE THINGS WHICH WERE SAID They would have gone down to The Beeches five in a motor-car, only, when the point was broached, Gilbert Watson looked at Bryan Norton, and they both went aside with Mr. Blake; in fact, the three men went into the garden together, and there George Blake was informed of what was in the tonneau of the car, under the rugs. So Bryan Norton went to The Beeches in the car, with the dead man as his sole companion. Then, when Andrew Holt arrived with the wagonette from The Ploughman's Rest, Mr. and Mrs. Blake went with him, and Olive Norton and Gilbert Watson walked down together. It was a walk which neither of them was ever likely to forget. In the first place, because the weather was so fine; in the second, because the way was so fair; and in the third--for other things. They did not say much--possibly because they had so much to say--until they had quitted the high road and were through the gate, and were on the path which led down through the forest to The Beeches. Then certain things were said, as, to begin with, this--by the lady: "I am so sorry that my brother was rude to you." "In what way?" "As to doubt your word when you said what you did." "You mean, his insisting that I was married?" "Of course, it was no business of his in any case. It was sheer impertinence on his part to interfere in your affairs at all. As if it made any difference to anyone if you were married or if you weren't--except to yourself." "Except to myself. It would make a difference to me. Because, of course, if I wasn't married, I might want to be." "Naturally, some men do want to marry sometimes. Look at that effect of the sunlight gleaming through those beeches--isn't it pretty?" Apparently he was not interested in the effect of the sunlight ...