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her parents would have been. They would have loved to have seen Nicholas as a man about town, and would have been delighted with Geoffrey's achievements.
    But there was no use repining. She reminded herself that she had work still to do, and went down to the library in search of books on botany.
    * * * *
    The barn's been mended, mlord, as you wanted,' said Ben Higgins, the estate carpenter, ‘ but the bridge is going to be a bigger job. The wood's all rotten, beggin' your pardon, mlord, and the timber 11 need replacing if it's to be made all right and tight again.'
    Very well,' said Lord Randall. He was looking out towards the small lake that was spanned at its narrow end by the ornamental bridge. ‘B ut I want it doing before the end of the month. It must be finished before my guests arrive.'
    Yes, mlord.'
    'Oh, and tell Jenkins I want to see him first thing in the morning,' went on Lord Randall, referring to the stonemason. There are a number of things that need his attention. And tell him to bring his tools.'
    Yes, mlord. Veiy good, mlord.'
    'All right, Higgins. You can go now; that will be all.'
    Very good, mlord,' said Ben.
    Lord Randall finished sorting out a pile of papers which were arranged with military precision on the top of his desk, then gave a last glance around the room. Everything that had needed doing had been done - at least for today. The rest could wait until the morning.
    Then, as was his custom when he had no visitors - for Maud and Percy had left for Sussex - he went to the library, where he intended to while away the remainder of the evening.
    The sun, less intense that it had been over the last few days, was by this time low in the sky. It slanted in through the mullioned windows, casting a rosy glow over the break-fronted bookcases and the spines of the well-worn leather books. It caught the gold lettering which spelt out the names of the authors and the titles of the books, making it gleam. And it also caught something else. It caught the strands of Miss Davenport's auburn hair.
    Lord Randall checked on seeing her. The feelings he had experienced only a few short days before, feelings no man as proud as he was should ever experience for a governess, made him unwilling to find himself alone with her. But at the same time he knew it was the perfect opportunity for him to tell her that he had decided the children should, after all, be allowed to play. He had given the matter a lot of thought and having seeing how confident William had become, and how much happier Lucy and Peter seemed, he had realised that he was wrong and she was right. And difficult though it was, he knew he must admit it.
    Looking at her as she stood examining the books in the westering sunlight, he found that, unaccountably, he was looking forward to their meeting.
    At that moment she looked up and saw him.
    'Lord Randall!
    She clutched at the book which, in her first moment of surprise, she had almost let fall. She was not normally a clumsy person, but she felt a sudden change in the atmosphere and temporarily lost control of herself.
    He took a step towards her, catching the book. She took it quickly; but not quickly enough to prevent his hand from brushing hers. A tingling sensation passed up her arm and down her spine. She felt suddenly awkward, and she wanted to explain her presence in the library. 1 came in to get some books on botany,' she said. 1 didn't realise you would be wanting the library this evening.'
    She waited apprehensively for his reply. She felt on edge with him; breathless; not knowing what direction their meeting would take. She remembered their last encounter clearly, and although she knew that she had been right about the children and he had been wrong, she knew she shouldn't have spoken to him as she had done. She also knew that, despite his anger, he had been very lenient with her: many other employers would have dismissed her on the spot.
    With these feelings uppermost in her mind she felt that it was