Chapter 39
The Lover "Please, sir, there's a lady to see you." Cleaver spoke in hushed tones, and, by the air of awestricken wonder, Jim gathered somebody unusual had called. "Who is the lady?" he asked, and knew before the man replied. "Lady Joan." Jim jumped up from his chair. "Why didn't you ask her in?" he said. "She wouldn't come in, sir. She is on the lawn: she asked if she could speak to you." He hurried out into the garden. Joan was standing at the river bank, her hands behind her, looking down into the water, and, hearing the swish of his shoes on the grass, she turned. "I wanted to see you," she said. "Shall we cross the river? I am on my way to the house, and you might take me as far as the coverts." They walked in silence until they were beyond the inquisitive eyes of Cleaver.
- Writer
