‘Now let us go.’

He at down before her then.

’Is there anything in what has happened to-night which makes you wish to keep it from the rest of the world? except of course Mr. Falkirk and me?’

If his object was to rouse her from the mechanical way in which she had hitherto moved and spoken, success is rarely more perfect.  Crimson and scarlet and all shades of colour went over her face and neck at the possible implications in his words; but she drew herself up with a world of girlish dignity, and then the brown eyes looked straight into his.

‘It is nobody’s business,’ she answered.  ‘So far.—­No further.’

He smiled.  ‘You mistake me,’ he said, very pleasantly.  ’That is my awkwardness.  It is nobody’s business—­except Mr. Falkirk’s and mine.  But you know very well that fact is no bar to people’s tongues.  And sometimes one does not choose to give them the material—­and sometimes one does not care.  My question meant only, do you care in this instance? and was a practical question.’

‘What do you mean?’ she said, quickly.  ’Say out all that is in your mind.  How can I judge of it by inches.’

‘You have not enlightened me,’ he said, ’and I can judge of nothing.  Do you wish to get home without letting anybody know you have been out? or may I call Primrose down and give you into her hands to be taken care of?  Surely you know my other question referred not to anything but the impertinence of the world generally.’

‘O!  I will go home!’ she said, rising up.  ’I cannot see anybody.  And Mr. Falkirk!—­He might send for me!’

‘Mr. Falkirk is fast asleep,’ said Rollo.  ’He will have concluded that you were kept at Mrs. Merrick’s.  Sit down again, and rest,’ he said, gently putting her back on the cushions, (he had risen when she rose)—­’we are not ready to go quite yet.  You must take breath first.  And we must not rouse up Chickaree at this hour.  If you were known to have staid with Miss Maryland—­would not that be the best way?’

’How is one to know the best, where all are bad?’—­Hazel rested her head in her hands and sat thinking.

‘No,’ said he quietly—­’we’ll try and not have that true.  If you could trust me with the story of the evening, I might be able to judge and act better for you.’

’Did you bring me here that I might not get home at such an hour?’ she said suddenly, looking up.

’I promised to tell you my reasons.  Yes, that was one of them.  The people at Chickaree must not know of your coming home in the middle of the night, on foot.  If I take you home at a fair hour in the morning, it will be all right.  Not on foot,’ said he, smiling.  He was so composed and collected, that his manner had everything in it to soothe and reassure her.  Not the composure of one who does not care, but of one who will take care.

’And Mr. Falkirk would say the same,’—­she spoke as if reasoning the matter out with herself.  ’Then I must wait.  But do not call anybody.  Mayn’t I sit here just quietly by myself?’