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"Ah!"

The exclamation baffled her. It might have been either of contempt or of relief.

"Why do you say 'Ah' like that?"

"Forgive me. I only meant I'm thankful that chap's going."

"Wasn't he much good?"

"He was worse than no good. I do hope you know something about farming."

This was a poser. It had not so far occurred to her that the secretary of a farm settlement should know anything about farming. She didn't know what to say. Should she bluff about farming as she had bluffed about so many other things she knew nothing about and perhaps get at least partly away with it? Then she remembered the object at the back of the car and decided not to try. This young man, even though he seemed so well bred, must know a lot about farming. He probably owned a big estate. She had better not risk a fall so early.

"Well—er—no, I'm afraid not. At least not much. I understand that my work has very little connection with the agricultural side of things."

"But—" he turned round and looked at her with such concern and bewilderment that she felt quite upset. "It's time," he said after a pause, "that someone down there got to know a bit about farming."