"
Tony seemed rather subdued on the homeward drive, but his spirits rallied
when they reached the Cottage, where Robin was waiting for them at the
gateway, with Billy Brewster hovering importantly in the middle distance.
Maria welcomed the new arrival with open arms, and the tea she had prepared
for the occasion was a rich display of what she could accomplish in the way
of cakes and pasties when she "put her mind to it." Tony did full justice
to them and chaffed her unmercifully, to her huge delight, and for the
moment one might have imagined him nothing but a big gay schoolboy, home
for the holidays.
It was not until later on, when Robin had gone out again, and he and Ann
were sitting smoking together under the latter's favourite oak, that he
unburdened his soul.
"I'm everlastingly grateful to you for answering my S.O.S. so promptly," he
said then. "Uncle Philip was simply making life unbearable at home."
Ann was swinging gently in the hammock, while Tony had flung himself down
at full length on the sun-warmed turf. Her eyes rested on him reflectively.
"How was that?" she asked.
"Oh"--impatiently--"the usual thing, of course! Money! I asked him to let
me have a hundred or two extra, and he simply went straight up in the air
over it.
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