"Do come in!"
"Not now, my dear. I must get back to London as soon as I can. There is
some more work to be done for you, and the sooner I do it the better."
She heard his excuse without heeding it.
"You are not like yourself, Robert," she said. "Why is it? What are you
thinking of?"
He was thinking of the bright blush that overspread her face when
Hardyman first spoke to her; he was thinking of the invitation to her
to see the stud-farm, and to ride the roan mare; he was thinking of the
utterly powerless position in which he stood towards Isabel and towards
the highly-born gentleman who admired her. But he kept his doubts and
fears to himself. "The train won't wait for me," he said, and held out
his hand once more.
She was not only perplexed; she was really distressed. "Don't take leave
of me in that cold way!" she pleaded. Her eyes dropped before his, and
her lips trembled a little. "Give me a kiss, Robert, at parting." She
said those bold words softly and sadly, out of the depth of her pity
for him. He started; his face brightened suddenly; his sinking hope
rose again. In another moment the change came; in another moment he
understood her. As he touched her cheek with his lips, he turned pale
again. "Don't quite forget me," he said, in low, faltering tones--and
left her.
Miss Pink met Isabel in the hall. Refreshed by unbroken repose, the
ex-schoolmistress was in the happiest frame of mind for the reception of
her niece's news.
Informed that Moody had travelled to South Morden to personally report
the progress of the inquiries, Miss Pink highly approved of him as a
substitute for Mr.
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