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e heartily wished himself up the tree again。
Soon； however； the way the girl took it began to move him to perplexity rather than pity。 It was like nothing he had expected； and yet he could not name the shade of difference。 The final identification of her father's skull； by the hole in the hat； turned her a little pale； but left her composed； this was； perhaps； explicable； since she had from the first taken the pessimistic view。 But during the rest of the tale there rested on her broad brows under her copper coils of hair； a brooding spirit that was itself a mystery。 He could only tell himself that she was less merely receptive； either firmly or weakly； than he would have expected。 It was as if she revolved； not their problem； but her own。 She was silent a long time； and said at last：
〃Thank you； Mr。 Ashe； I am really very grateful for this。 After all； it brings things to the point where they must have come sooner or later。〃 She looked dreamily at the wood and sea； and went on： 〃I've not only had myself to consider； you see； but if you're really thinking THAT； it's time I spoke out； without asking anybody。 You say； as if it were something very dreadful； 'Mr。 Treherne was in the wood that night。' Well； it's not quite so dreadful to me； you see； because I know he was。 In fact； we were there together。〃
〃Together！〃 repeated the lawyer。
〃We were together；〃 she said quietly； 〃because we had a right to be together。〃
〃Do you mean；〃 stammered Ashe； surprised out of himself； 〃that you were engaged？〃
〃No； no；〃 she said。 〃We were married。〃
Then； amid a startled silence； she added； as a kind of afterthought：
〃In fact； we are still。〃
Strong as was his composure； the lawyer sat back in his chair with a sort of solid stupefaction at which Paynter could not help smiling。
〃You will ask me； of course；〃 went on Barbara in the same measured manner； 〃why we should be married secretly； so that even my poor father did not know。 Well； I answer you quite frankly to begin with； because； if he had known； he would certainly have cut me off with a shilling。 He did not like my husband； and I rather fancy you do not like him either。 And when I tell you this； I know perfectly well what you will say the usual adventurer getting hold of the usual heiress。 It is quite reasonable； and； as it happens； it is quite wrong。 If I had deceived my father for the sake of the money； or even for the sake of a man； I should be a little ashamed to talk to you about it。 And I think you can see that I am not ashamed。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the American； with a grave inclination； 〃yes； I can see that。〃
She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment； as if seeking words for an obscure matter； and then said：
〃Do you remember； Mr。 Paynter； that day you first lunched here and told us about the African trees？ Well； it was my birthday； I mean my first birthday。 I was born then； or woke up or something。 I had walked in this garden like a somnambulist in the sun。 I think there are many such somnambulists in our set and our society； stunned with health； drugged with good manners； fitting their surroundings too well to be alive。 Well； I came alive somehow； and you know how deep in us are the things we first realize when we were babies and began to take notice。 I began to take notice。 One of the first things I noticed was your own story； Mr。 Paynter。 I feel as if I heard of St。 Securis as children hear of Santa Claus； and as if that big tree were a bogey I still believed in。 For I do still believe in such things； or rather I believe in them more and more； I feel certain my poor father drove on the rocks by disbelieving； and you are all racing to ruin after him。 That is why I do honestly want the estate； and that is why I am not ashamed of wanting it。 I am perfectly certain； Mr。 Paynter； that nobody can save this perishing land and this perishing people but those who understand。 I mean who understand a thousand little signs and guides in the very soil and lie of the land； and traces that are almost trampled out。 My husband understands； and I have begun to understand； my father would never have understood。 There are powers； there is the spirit of a place； there are presences that are not to be put by。 Oh； don't fancy I am sentimental and hanker after the good old days。 The old days were not all good； that is just the point； and we must understand enough to know the good from the evil。 We must understand enough to save the traces of a saint or a sacred tradition； or； where a wicked god has been worshiped； to destroy his altar and to cut down his grove。〃
〃His grove；〃 said Paynter automatically； and looked toward the little wood； where the sunbright birds were flying。
〃Mrs。 Treherne；〃 said Ashe； with a formidable quietness； 〃I am not so unsympathetic with all this as you may perhaps suppose。 I will not even say it is all moonshine； for it is something better。 It is； if I may say so； honeymoonshine。 I will never deny the saying that it makes the world go round； if it makes people's heads go round too。 But there are other sentiments； madam； and other duties。 I need not tell you your father was a good man； and that what has befallen him would be pitiable； even as the fate of the wicked。 This is a horrible thing； and it is chiefly among horrors that we must keep our common sense。 There are reasons for everything； and when my old friend lies butchered do not come to me with even the most beautiful fairy tales about a saint and his enchanted grove。〃
〃Well； and you！〃 she cried； and rose radiantly and swiftly。 〃With what kind of fairy tales do you come to me？ In what enchanted groves are YOU walking？ You come and tell me that Mr。 Paynter found a well where the water danced and then disappeared； but of course miracles are all moonshine！ You tell me you yourself fished bones from under the same water； and every bone was as dry as a biscuit； but for Heaven's sake let us say nothing that makes anybody's head go round！ Really； Mr。 Ashe； you must try to preserve your common sense！〃
She was smiling； but with blazing eyes； and Ashe got to his feet with an involuntary laugh of surrender。
〃Well； we must…be going；〃 he said。 〃May I say that a tribute is really due to your new transcendental training？ If I may say so； I always knew you had brains； and you've been learning to use them。〃
The two amateur detectives went back to the wood for the moment； that Ashe might consider the removal of the unhappy Squire's remains。 As he pointed out； it was now legally possible to have an inquest； and； even at that early stage of investigations； he was in favor of having it at once。
〃I shall be the coroner；〃 he said； 〃and I think it will be a case of 'some person or persons unknown。' Don't be surprised； it is often done to give the guilty a false security。 This is not the first time the police have found it convenient to have the inquest first and the inquiry afterward。〃
But Paynter had paid little attention to the point； for his great gift of enthusiasm； long wasted on arts and affectations； was lifted to inspiration by the romance of real life into which he had just walked。 He was really a great critic； he had a genius for admiration； and his admiration varied