To his own astonishment, he actually found his self-possession leaving him; and though its desertion proved only momentary, _in_ that moment he found himself walking away with the Thursbys in the direction of the Hall.

He was provoked, angry with himself, with the Thursbys, and, most of all, with Mr.Alwynn, who had come up a second later, and asked him to luncheon, as a matter of course, also Dare, who accepted with evident gratitude.

Charles felt that he had not gone steeple-chasing over the country only to talk to Mrs.Thursby, and to see Ruth stroll away over the fields with Dare towards the rectory.
However, he made himself extremely agreeable, which was with him more a matter of habit than those who occasionally profited by it would have cared to know.

He asked young Thursby his opinion on E.C.

cartridges; he condoled with Mrs.Thursby on the loss of her last butler, and recounted some alarming anecdotes of his own French cook.