"He wanted—wanted me—to—marry him," I said, crying anew. "And I—couldn't."
"How do you know he wanted that?" said she.
"He said it one day. And I ran away and left him, mother."
"Not a bad plan," says she. "I wish a few more girls would run away from a few more lads. There'd be a lot of trouble spared. Well, how long ago was it?"
I had to think a moment, before I could remember that it was just before the express train having to be stopped.
"Rupert was wrong to speak to you," mother said. "He ought to have come first to father and me."
But I thought of Mr. Russell, and I didn't say "Yes."
"He was so vexed," I said. "And he's been angry and disagreeable since. And yesterday evening he told me—told me—he meant to go away. I didn't believe him. I thought it was all nonsense."
"When did he tell you?"
"Out-of-doors," I said.