JILL OF THE FIELDS

Evening Star, Issue 21633, 31 January 1934, Page 3

JILL OF THE FIELDS

A ROMANCE

[By KENNAWAY. JAMES.] (Author of “ Mors to Command,” “ What Hargreaves Knew,” etc . I

CFt AFTER VIII. Jill Takes Action

CHAPTER IX. George Sees Somcthins

Mark felt himself wishing that the message hail not'come, for ho had begun to seu himself almost in a ridiculous light. The meeting with Freda on happily equal terms had made Ids inferior position with 'Jill'seem slightly nauseous. Nevertheless, he set out for the farm, though feeling that he was'obeying a summons rather than responding to an invitation. J ill had discarded her farm clothes for an evening frock, and in the mellow light of the largo oil-lamp on the polished oak refectory table, looked a vision which was devastating to Mark. He took a seat opposite her by the fire. She said he might smoke his pipe, and ho did. Jill opened the conversation with some matters concerning the frrm. She intended later to refer to Matk’s outburst in the dairy. “ You know, Mark, Stone Farm has not been doing too well just lately,” she said, “ I have just had my books back from the accountants in Henbridge, and their letter is not at all encouraging,” “ Accountants never are,” said Mark. “ 1 don’t quite see where we’re wrong.” “ Well, for one thing, our milk yield is down on the corresponding quarter though we have the same number of milking cattle—good ones, too. It looks as though the feeding is at fault somewhere.” “ I don’t quite agree,” said Mark, “ but if the yield is down then it’s up to me to get it up again.” “Well, it’s a thing we two must attend to ourselves rather than leave it to the men. Those Herefords have been in Long Leasow without a change for heaven knows how long.” From this Jill went to other branches of the farm which were apparently at fault. She was genuinely in dread that Stone Town might be drifting towards failure. Then she said:' “I, want to bo awfully frank with you, Mark. Do you think you have been quite, .so thorough lately as you used to be?” Mark knew she had put her linger on the right spot. He had been slack, but he dared not tell her the reason —which was herself. Nevertheless he knew that this cause applied only to recent weeks. It did not account for the whole of the period under review. His reply, he thought, had to be one of denial. “Of course I have,” he replied hoarsely. “ I always want to do ray best for you, Jill.” “ Thank you,” said Jill, her eyes becoming suddenly moist. “1 should be broken-hearted if Stone Town went down the hill.” They made a strange picture as they sat in this old kitchen. Mark, handsome and virile, and attractive, too, in spite of his old tweed suit and his diffident manner ; and she so essentially delicate and alluring. An onlooker would have been pardoned had he disbelieved that she was a farmer! Mark wanted to take her in his arms and assure that she and her farm and everything pertaining to it would be safe in his- hands. Jill, feeling herself perilously near tears, changed the subject to one which, for some reason she did not caro to guess, was almost equally unpalatable. She had felt a definite pang of jealousy when she had seen Mark with Freda Lane that evening. At the time of their friendship Freda had shown that she admired Mark for his manliness, for she was the type of girl who was not afraid to say so. “ Was it tea at the vicarage to-day? she asked, her customary smile returning, “Well, as a matter of fact, it was, replied Mark. Jill had made a guess and was surprised to find herself right. “ Freda is an interesting girl, she commented. She wanted to see how Mark would react. Mark made no attempt to hide his enthusiasm. “ She’s great,” he replied heartily, “ and has been good enough to lend me some books which I have dearly wanted to read. Pretty, too,” he added, as he knocked out his pipe casually on a log in the fire. , , . . Jill’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. “ Yes, she’s pretty,” she replied laconically. “It it wasn’t for what .you said to me in the dairy, 1 should think you were in danger of falling in love with her.” Thus did Jill open the subject which was really the only oils about which she had wished to speaJc to Mark. She took him by surprise, for she had said earlier that the subject was to be tucked away out of sight. Mark was silent for a few moments before he replied. . , “ I—l’m afraid that, to me, falling in love means getting right out of my depth. ) should not do it twice,” be added, gazing into the fire as he spoke. Jill moved her chair a little nearer to him, and he caught the delicate perfume of lavender. “Mark,” she said seriously, “you really ought not to have spoken to me like that. You’ve made me—made me very unhappy. Why did you do it?” “ Oh, Jill, I couldn’t help it,” he replied, all his prearranged caution forgotten. “ I do love you ? and I always shall. And, Jill, I’m going to ask you something, whatever may be the outcome of it. Do you—do you think that you could ever . .” At that moment there was a knock at the door and Mrs Blore, the housekeeper, appeared. “ There’s Mr Phillip Barbour to see you. Miss Jill,” she said. “Oh. damn!” exclaimed Mark in a voice which did not reach the slightly deaf old lady. Then he added: “Do you wish me to go?” “ No, please stay here, Mark,” replied Jill, then, turning to Mrs Blore, she said; “Please show Mr Barbour in.”

Despite the undoubted awkwardness of the situation, Jill was forced to laugh at Mark’s'expletive. ‘•'Don’t be angry, Mark,” she said. “ He won’t bite you.” Mark himself was forced lo smile, but for a .second only. Why on earth had the fellow .chosen that precise moment to come blundering in upon them! It seemed that some instinct had prompted Barbour to come and make a fool of him.

Mark had not forgotten Barbour’s reference to the former’s “ rustic ignorance” on the occasion of his first call at• Stone Town. And, anyhow, what did he want there at all I' Still, thought Mark, the intruder would see that Mark Hanson was something more than a head man of a farm, it would bo plain that he was on terms of social friendship with Jill., As these thoughts flushed through his mind the door opened to admit Phillip Barbour, .and the visitor was still his exquisite self. He was wearing a perfectly-cut grey suit which throw- up to advantage his olive complexion. Oh, Miss Morridew,” he exclaimed, ‘‘ I am fortunate to find you in.” ,Ue ignored Mark, who was standing near Jill. > Jill acknowledged his greeting, and turned, to Mark. “ Let me introduce Mr Hanson,’ she said, “ though I think you have mot him already.” “That, is so; replied Barbour, giving Mark a slight nod. “J remember the. occasion well.” . If Mark was annojed by Barbour calling, Barbour was equally displeased by, Mark’s presence with Jill. There was a certain amount of electricity in the air. and Jill could feel it. She bade l them both bo seated and turned the conversation into more general channels. Her effort, however, was rather a failure, for each man had his separate grievance. Mark, because Barbour had interrupted his vital conversation with Jill, and Barbour because he could not begin his own talk with her.

“ Would you rather I called again, Miss Merridew?” : asked Barbour presently. “ 1 can see you, are giving Mr Hanson his instructions. P Mark hoped desperately that Jill would take advantage oh this offer, but Jill acted entirely to the contrary. “No, please stay,’’ she said. “ You have come- over Especially to see me, which is kind of- you.’’ ‘ The effect of this on Mark was pronounced. He saw in it his dismissal from Jill’s presence, though Jill had not meant it in that way at all. Anger surged within him, though- ho managed to keep a civil longue. “ If you’ll excuse .me, Jill,” he said, “ I think 1 will go. There are several things 1 want to attend to.” ■ Before Jill could decide what to say Mark had bowed to both of them and was nearing the dooi. , Once outside Mark letv'his. rage‘have rein'. He cursed audibly-as'ho plodded back to his cottage. , • He had purposely, called Jill by her Christian name. He would, show this London 'pest on what terms he was with Jill. If only he could meet him and pick a. quarrel with him he could get some satisfaction. To give a fellow a good hiding would give him a world of pleasure. Perhaps sooner or latqr this would .happen. Intuition told him that it would. He returned to his books, but they had' lost them savour. He was.definitely angry with Jill, and,deliberately endeavoured to turn' his . mind ; to Freda Lane, not without success, for here, he thought, was a girl who understood him. , Meanwhile Barbour had settled down in undisputed bliss; Jill was annoyed with Mark’s attitude for, despite his polite words, she had seen the anger blazing in his eyes. She disliked pettiness, especially in a man. And she felt that Mark had been childish in his behaviour. Barbour’s ease of manner, his witty conversation, and breadth of knowledge began again, as they had bn his previous visit, to take hold of her. Yet her heart was sore. Having put sentiment aside for the sake of the farm she now felt fore affected by it than would another girl. Her quarrel with Mark, his declaration of love, her knowledge ,of Freda’s slight triumph, and the events of this evening all combined to bring her nerves to an unusually sensitive condition. She found herself listening absentmindedly to Barbour’s technical description of the coat-of-anns. It seemed that he had taken much pains to got information for her, and she was grateful. Meanwhile Barbour, who by now had decided that he was as much in love with Jill as he had been with any other girl—which perhaps was not saying a great deal—was doing his best to make a good impression. His London friend, “ Mr Dogsbody, had discovered ' many interesting facts from the coat-of-arms concerning Jill’s family, proving it to be of greater antiquity than even her lather had known. “ The Merfidews ; are a great and distinguished family,” he said, “ and it is a fine thing for you to represent it in these equahtarian days.” Jill looked wearily pleased, and he continued: *• “Ah! Stone Town! What a history 1 He had risen to examine a monogram engraved on the old stone mantelpiece. Jill had automatically risen with him. “Yes, what a history! You have a great heritage in Stone Town and its farm. May it ever prosper.” As he spoke these words Jill’s eyes travelled to the set of lann account books on the table, and the accountant’s words of warning came back to her. The heritage, was not exactly prosperous at the moment. A sudden wave of helplessness came over her and her eyes filled with tears. With desperation she fought to keep them back, but soon was compelled to turn from Barbour as the sobs came and convulsed her. Jill the farmei, Jill the strong will, had become Jill the girl, emotional as any other, ifor a moment Baßbour stood amazed. “ Why, whatever ” he was about to ask, when a protective instinct forced him to an impulsive action. He made a step forward and took Jill in his arms and gently smoothed her hair. Her head was on his breast as she sobbed. She did not care. The impropriety of His action, which would otherwise have angered her. was nothing to her. She cried almost contentedly. Her extreme loneliness was mitigated. What would Mark nut have given for that heaven-sent opportunity. Barbour was overwhelmed with pity and astonishment. He, like others would pfiY.ec have- associated Jill jvita

tears. .Nor yet would he have imagined himscll capable of so precipitate an action. He. was too uiucJi an artist m these things to make mistakes. What would be the outcome of the present perturbing situation lie could not anticipate, ills ipicst for the fertiliser iormula had gone from his mind. Who could think oi fertilisers with a pretty ,'irl suhoing on ones breast ■‘ My poor gn>,” lie whispered. “ You must tell me about it afterwards.” He tissed ber hair so lightly that she was unaware of it. Suddenly she gave a little cry. ” Oh, whatever is the matter with me? ” slie said between her subsiding ,oas. Then she almost pushed Barbour away, and sank into a chair.

Now came a period of en.’jarrassinent. Probably bot-.i would have been more embarrassed had they known that the whole of this little' drama had been witnessed through the window by none other than old Geargc. lie had .seen Barbour iu the neighbourhood and had guessed .that he would be calling at Stone Town. He had his own reasons for being interested in the activities of Mr Barbour. Jle was by now convinced that he was in pursuit of the formula,, and intended to keep a close watch on the stranger's activities. But he had never expected such a treat as this. Bless his body and soul, and dang: his rags if he had. He would have to ,t,el| Mark about it. Mark wouldn’t half laugh. Bike those of many old farmhouses, the windows of Stone Farm were without blinds. There were heavy shutters outside, but these had been meant lor more nefarious days, and were too much of a trouble to close Without rea&on, Old George, therefore, had an uninterrupted view, which, as ho said, was “ better than a flllum.” . After moving away from' Barbour Jill sat staring into the tire. “T don’t know whatever you will think of me, Air Barbour,” she said brokenly. ■ Barbour stepped forward and sat on the arm of her chair. His hand touud her hair again in a consoling caress, but Jill gently removed it. “ Tell mo all about it,” he said. “Oh, I can’t,” exclaimed Jill. “It is so many things all at once. You have been awfully kind to me. 1 m afraid I’ve been very silly.” . In answer Barbour bent oyer her and kissed her hair again. This time Jill reacted quickly, and resented his action. ' “ You had better go now, she said, with a touch of her old dignity. _ “ Very well,” said Barbour. He knew when things could bo overdone. “ But I beg of you to let me call again in-the morning. There are many things L want to say to you, and I’m sure 1 am capable of helping you out of some of. your troubles at any rate. Good-night—l’m going to risk a lot and sav ‘Good-night, Jill.’ ” Jill smiled up at him wanly. Alter all, he had been most kind to her, and when you have wept on a man’s breast and had his arms about you you can hardly. begin to draw the line at his use. of your Christian name. , When lie had gone Jill sat long thinking of the extraordinary halfhalf which had just passed. She had amazed and disappointed herself by her breakdown, for she had imagined herself to have been "'made,, of sterner stuff. She could still feel about her the comforting arms of Philliu and hear his reassuring voice. Any doubts she had about allowing him to call on the morrow were dissipated on reflection; Somehow she needed him. It was clear that Mark could only make her more unhappy. Had she loved him. it would have been different. But. did she love him? Although her feelings for him were the tenderest she could not call it love. ; As for Phillio. she resented his familiarity, loathed the recollection of her outburst, but still felt drawn to him, attracted oven though she feared him With these conflicting emotions in her breast she .went up to the Ladyes' Room ami was presently fitfully asleep. (To be continued.)