"Quite sure," she answered, in the same changed voice; "don't trouble yourself about me. I was only frightened."
Mellen could not understand her manner, but he said nothing more. She lay back on the settee, and closed her eyes while he stood there regarding and wondering whether she lay thus from weakness or to escape further conversation.
At last the woman returned and announced that the carriage would be down immediately.
"That are man frightened the horse," she said; "I was a looking out of the window—it's my belief he's a hanging about the place for no good."
"Have you ever seen him before?" asked Mellen.
"Why, I think it's the chap you was a talking with one day, Mrs. Mellen," said the woman.
"I thought you did not know him?" observed Mellen, turning quickly towards his wife.
She sat upright, gave him one of her quick, indignant glances, and answered coldly:
"I simply said he ran by me so fast I could not tell whether I knew him or not."
"Wal, it was the same fellow," pursued Mrs. Green; "I'm sure of that."