Meanwhile, Nina and Caryll were battling over old scores in the orangery.
"So you want me to go away?" said she.
"No. I want you to come away—with me," said he.
"I told you if you followed me here I'd leave."
"But you didn't mean it. I know you didn't mean it. It was just to test me."
"It was nothing of the sort. I was never more in earnest. I begged Lord Kneedrock to chain you if necessary. Did he say anything to you?"
"Oh, yes, of course. He did have quite a talk with me. Wanted to take me to his shooting-box and all that sort of thing. But I didn't fancy he meant to put me in irons. He was really very kind."
"Nibbetts kind?" queried Nina, plucking an orange leaf and doubling it in her long white fingers. "Then he must have contemplated extreme measures. What was it he said?"
"He said that perhaps you were getting too fond of me. Are you?"
"He didn't. I don't believe you. I can't hear him saying anything like that. Not at all."