Lisle abruptly strode away, and Crestwick saw that Nasmyth was regarding him curiously.
"Lisle was quite right," Nasmyth said. "He only forestalled me in instructions I meant to give you."
"Then you understand what I was referring to?" exclaimed Crestwick.
"I've a good idea," Nasmyth answered dryly. "In my opinion, so has Lisle."
"But you were on the far side of the hedge on the morning we tried the horse, and Lisle was down. He wasn't conscious when I broke through the thorns."
"Quite correct; but it's most unlikely he lost consciousness from the fall, and he was lying with his face turned toward the jump--it wasn't until the chestnut came down on his shoulder that he was badly hurt. The doctor agreed with me on that point."
"That might have struck me," Crestwick rejoined. "But you owned that you had an idea of what happened at the jump. How did you get it? Did Lisle tell you?"
"I'm firmly convinced that he'll never mention what he saw or suspects to anybody, unless it's to Gladwyne. As to the rest, the hedge wasn't thick enough to prevent my seeing through it."
"He's an unusual man," declared Crestwick in an admiring tone. "I haven't met his equal. But I'll keep my eye on Gladwyne--there's risk enough at some of the rapids--the hound shan't have another chance if I can help it."
They turned and went back to camp, but on reaching it they sat down among the packers, avoiding Gladwyne and Millicent.
The sense of security which Millicent experienced on announcing her engagement was not permanent and in a few days the doubts that had troubled her crept back into her mind. She had never entertained any marked illusions about Clarence and although, now that she was irrevocably pledged to him, she endeavored to fix her thoughts on his most likable qualities, even these appeared in a less favorable light than they had formerly done. The growth of the warmer attachment she had expected to feel was strangely slow, and though it was early to indulge in regrets her heart sometimes grew heavy as she looked forward to the future. Clarence was considerate, attentive and deferential in a polished way, but he lacked something one looked for in a lover. Besides, she was anxious about him; he looked worn, his manner suggested that he was bearing a strain, but this was in his favor, for it roused her compassion. She fancied that the cause of it was financial, and this in a sense was encouraging, because this was a trouble from which she could purchase him immunity.