Ruth sighed as she followed him with her eyes. It seemed to her a thousand pities that his native land had no place for such as he. He was not of the common order. He had gifts, education, imagination, enterprise, and yet he was foiled at every point.
Then for some reason her thoughts travelled away to William Menire, and the memory of her brother's words, "William is very sensitive where you are concerned," brought a warm rush of colour to her cheeks.
Why should William be so sensitive where she was concerned? Why should he be so shy and diffident when in her presence? Why was he ever so ready to sing the praises of his cousin?
She was brought back to herself at length by the sound of horse's hoofs, and a minute or two later Sam Tremail drew up and alighted at the garden gate.
Sam did not wait for an invitation. Flinging the reins over the gate post, he marched boldly up the garden path, and greeted Ruth at the door. She received him courteously, as was her nature, but a more sensitive man might have felt that there was not much warmth in her welcome.
"I was riding this way, and so I thought I would call," he explained. "I hope I don't intrude?"
"Oh no, not at all. Will you come inside?"
"Thank you, I shall be pleased to rest a few minutes, and so will Nero. Is your brother at home?"
"No, he has just gone down to Perranpool."
"Mr. Telfer has nearly finished his contract, I hear."
"And the company have a mountain of concrete on their hands."
"Ralph says they are charging so enormously for it. Besides, they have not sought out new markets."
"Markets would open if the stuff was not so poor. They managed to hustle your brother out of his rights without getting his secret."
"So I am told. I know nothing about the matter myself. I can only repeat what people are saying. By the by, I suppose you have heard that your old home has been sold?"
"St. Goram seems to be quite excited about it. The people in my cousin's shop can talk of nothing else."
"Just to say 'How d'ye do?' But Saturday afternoon appears to be a busy day with him. Seems a shame that he has to turn out, doesn't it?"
"Of course, in a measure, it's his own fault. He ought not to have opposed Lord St. Goram. A man in business ought not to have any politics, and should keep out of public affairs."