Next morning he achieved victory. He met Brewster during break and presented his ultimatum.
“I won’t tell you her name,” he said. “I promised not to. It wouldn’t be the game. But I tell you what I will do, though. If you’ll promise to come out for a walk with me on Sunday I’ll arrange for her to meet us somewhere, and then you can see what you think of each other. Now, what do you say to that?”
Brewster’s curiosity was so roused that he accepted eagerly, and next Sunday they set out together towards Cold Harbour.
About a mile and a half from the school a sunken lane ran down the side of a steep hill towards the railway. The lane could be approached from two sides, and from the shelter of a thick hedge it was possible to observe the whole country-side without being seen. It was here that they had arranged their meeting.
They found the two girls waiting when they arrived. Betty looked very smart in a dark blue coat and skirt and a small hat that fitted tightly over her head. She smiled at Roland, and the sight, after months, of her fresh-colored face, with its bright eyes and wide, moist mouth, sent a sudden thrill through him--half fear, half excitement.
“So you’ve managed to arrange it,” said Dolly. “How clever of you.”
“Very nice of him to come,” said Betty, her eyes fixed on Brewster, who stood awkwardly, his hands in his pockets, kicking one heel against the other.
For a few minutes they talked together, stupid, inconsequent badinage, punctuated by giggles, till Betty, as usual, reminded them that they would only have an hour together.
“I suppose so,” said Roland. “Come along, Dolly,” and they began to walk down the lane. At the corner they turned and saw the other two standing together--Betty, taller, confident and all-powerful; Brewster, looking up at her, scared and timid, his hands clasped behind him.
“He looks a bit shy, doesn’t he?” said Dolly.
“Rather not. He’ll soon get used to her. Betty doesn’t let her boys stop shy with her for long. She makes them do as she wants them.”
And when they returned an hour later they saw the two sitting side by side chatting happily. But as soon as they reached them Brewster became silent and shy, and looked neither of them in the face.