CHAPTER XIV.
MARGARET SPEAKS OUT During the drive the presence of servants rendered conversation impossible on the one topic that engrossed their thoughts.
The barrister, therefore, had an opportunity to display the other side of his engaging personality, his singular knowledge of the world, his acquaintance with the latest developments in literature and the arts, and so much of London's _vie intime_ as was suited to the ears of polite society.
Once he amused the ladies greatly by a trivial instance of his faculty for deducing a definite fact from seemingly inadequate signs.
He was sitting with his back to the horses.

They passed a field in which some people were working.

Neither of the women paid attention to the scene.

Brett, from mere force of habit, took in all details.
A little farther on he said: "Are we approaching a village ?" "Yes," answered Miss Layton, "a small place named Needham." "Then it will not surprise me if, during the next two minutes, we meet a horse and cart with a load of potatoes.

The driver is a young man in his shirt sleeves.