In books there always seemed to be haystacks standing about under which people ate their meals. Donald’s farm seemed badly laid out in this respect, there were none standing in a handy and picturesque position. Janet did not want to be seen hunting about so as to attract notice from the farm hands, so she walked quietly out of the yard and through the gate. There was some rough grass and a hedge between the garden and the cornfield; the hedge was just what Janet was looking for, handy, and screening her from the house. She sat down and undid her sandwiches, then, because it was hot, and peaceful, and the view lovely and restful, she forgot to eat, and instead fell into a daydream, a daydream in which Donald was the central figure, saying—they were on Christian name terms in the dream—“Janet, can you forgive me for being a parsimonious beast? How could I have grudged you two guineas! You are a wonderful governess and worth at least five.” She was brought back to the world by a shadow which fell across her, and she looked up to see Donald with a frown between his brows glaring down at her. “What is this nonsense?”

“What nonsense?”

“Eating sandwiches out here.”

“There was no mention of meals in our agreement. I don’t want to sponge on you.”

He looked as if he was going to shake her.

“Please come in at once, lunch is getting cold.”

She was just as angry as he was.

“Thank you, I prefer to stop here.”

He made a noise of utter exasperation, and before she knew what he was thinking of, had stooped down, gripped her by the arms and stood her on her feet. Then he released one arm and gave her a pull to make her walk beside him.

“Come on at once, and don’t behave like a fool.”

“And don’t you behave like a bully. I suppose this is how you treat your farm hands and the cows and sheep, but you can’t treat me in this way.”

He gripped her more firmly.

“As you can imagine from my behaviour, I flog my farm hands, and as for the sheep and cows, it’s pitiful the way I knock them about, so it won’t surprise you when I tell you that you’re either coming quietly, or I’m carrying you in.”

Janet, with a supreme effort, dragged her arm free.

“You are the most insufferable man; such a way to treat a governess.”

“My dear girl, I don’t look upon you as a governess. Seeing how we know each other, it’s hardly likely that I should, is it? I’m doing my duty, that’s all. I know what’s expected of me, and leaving you sitting like a tramp in a ditch is not what would be expected, is it?”