She was tall, and moved towards them like one endowed with great length from the hip joint to the knee.

Joy of life, serene, unconscious vigour, seemed to radiate from her whole face and figure.
At Lady Valleys' words: "Ah, Babs! My daughter Barbara--Mr.Courtier," he put out his hand, received within it some gauntleted fingers held out with a smile, and heard her say: "Miltoun's gone up to Town, Mother; I was going to motor in to Bucklandbury with a message he gave me; so I can fetch Granny out from the station:" "You had better take Ann, or she'll make our lives a burden; and perhaps Mr.Courtier would like an airing.

Is your knee fit, do you think ?" Glancing at the apparition, Courtier replied: "It is." Never since the age of seven had he been able to look on feminine beauty without a sense of warmth and faint excitement; and seeing now perhaps the most beautiful girl he had ever beheld, he desired to be with her wherever she might be going.

There was too something very fascinating in the way she smiled, as if she had a little seen through his sentiments.
"Well then," she said, "we'd better look for Ann." After short but vigorous search little Ann was found--in the car, instinct having told her of a forward movement in which it was her duty to take part.

And soon they had started, Ann between them in that peculiar state of silence to which she became liable when really interested.
From the Monkland estate, flowered, lawned, and timbered, to the open moor, was like passing to another world; for no sooner was the last lodge of the Western drive left behind, than there came into sudden view the most pagan bit of landscape in all England.