He stopped abruptly, and so did she. He gasped, and she likewise gasped. But, somehow, it was far less awful than before, because here there was no one present to witness their behavior.
He put out his hand and she put hers in it before she thought. It came to him just then, suddenly, that he had told her he had offered himself to Mrs. Darling and given her the ring. And now he had that very ring in his waistcoat pocket.
His breath came fast—so fast that it almost choked him.
"Rosamond!" he stammered. "Oh, Rosamond!"
She was dressed for traveling and was evidently just on her way down. In point of fact she was about quitting the house to save herself further embarrassment.
She wasn't expecting to meet Carleigh on that side of the house, and the encounter had startled her, as it did him, more than slightly.
She stood, actually panting. She strove to look at him, and failed utterly. Then she tried to free her hand and failed in that, too.
Had the place been less public he would surely have taken her in his arms. But dinner was barely an hour off, and guests were likely to be passing at any minute.
Moreover, being at the angle of the corridor, they were likely to come upon them without any warning whatever; just as they had come upon one another.
"Rosie," he said, without the slightest premeditation or consideration, "I've been very unhappy and very foolish, and Mrs. Darling has brought me to my senses. She doesn't want me and she doesn't want the ring. Will you take it back? Will you take me back? She says that you are the one I love, and I think she knows."