A hundred yards from the gate were two yeomen on horseback. The Comtesse greeted them cheerfully as she passed. The men followed the ladies along the road.
"What are we to do?" said Una, "they mean to watch us."
"Perhaps not," said the Comtesse, "let us make sure."
She motioned Una to stop, and sat down on the bank on the roadside. The men halted and waited also. It became obvious that they intended to keep the ladies in view.
"This is abominable," said Una. "How dare they follow us when we are going to bathe?"
"My dear," said the Comtesse, laughing, "they very likely think that we are not going to bathe. So far as I am concerned, their suspicions are quite just. I am certainly not going to undress on a nasty rock which would cut my feet, and then go into cold salt water to have my toes nipped by crabs and lobsters. The worthy Hannah is not going to bathe either. She has too much good sense. Even these stupid yeomen must guess that we are carrying something else besides towels."
"But I am going to bathe," said Una, "and it is intolerable that I should be spied upon and watched."
The Comtesse rose and approached the men.
"Where is Captain Twinely this morning?" she asked, smiling.
"Here he is, coming along the road forninst you, Miss."
The man spoke civilly enough. It was natural to be civil to the Comtesse when she smiled. She had fine eyes, and was not too proud to use them in a very delightful manner even when the man before her was no more than a trooper in a company of yeomen.
"So he is!" she said. "And my good gentleman trooper, how nice your manners are. I am, alas! no longer 'Miss,' though it pleases you to flatter me. I am 'Madam,' a widow, quite an old woman."
She left him and hurried forward to greet Captain Twinely.
"I am charmed to meet you, Captain Twinely. But why have you never been up to call on us? We hear that you have been two whole days in our neighbourhood and not even once have you come to see us. How rude and unkind you are. I would not have believed it of you. But perhaps you have been very busy chasing the odious rebels and had no time to visit us poor ladies."
"I didn't think I was wanted at Dunseveric House, my lady," said the captain.
Like his trooper, he was aware that the Comtesse smiled at him, and that she had beautiful eyes.