Rarely did Eliot Coventry put in an appearance at Oldstone Cottage at all,
and if the exigencies of business matters took him there on any occasion
when Robin chanced to be out, he usually contrived only to leave a note or
message for him with Maria. More often than not, however, he would merely
send word to him, asking him to come up and see him at Heronsmere. To Ann,
puzzled and secretly somewhat piqued, it seemed as though he were
studiously avoiding her. Once she mentioned the subject to Robin,
introducing it casually into the conversation as though it were a matter of
no moment--as is the way of women in regard to anything which touches them
closely. Robin had dismissed it easily.
"Oh, you mustn't think anything of that," he assured her. "I told
you--women don't enter much into Coventry's life. He's a bit of a recluse
as far as your sex is concerned."
"He was quite friendly that first morning he came here," objected Ann.
It was that which puzzled her--the apparently causeless change in his
attitude. It was true that upon, first recognising in his agent's sister
the girl he had rescued from her difficulties on the night of the Fete des
Narcisses he had appeared disconcerted and by no means pleased to renew the
acquaintance.
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