“They’re all right,” he whispered. “Let’s go for a bit of a stroll.”

They moved off together towards a vacant portion of the meadow, midway between the cricket-match and a noisy group of smaller boys.

“Now, what is it, Mattie?” he said, pressing her unmercifully. “I’ve seen you so little lately that I can’t follow your moods. But I’ve never seen such a depressed look. It’s far sadder, your face today, than when Mr. Smith died. It’s a different kind of sadness. It makes me wonder.”

“Dear Wolf! I assure you, you needn’t fret about me. I’m all right. You worry too much about people. You can’t take everyone’s sorrows on yourself. People have to go through things sometimes where no one can help them.”

Wolf stood stock-still and laid his hand on her wrist.