“There, get away, do!” exclaimed the girl, slipping out of his grasp. “I never knew a man so forward and impudent as you are.”
“And I never knew a girl so uncertain and capricious as you are,” returned he; “so now we are even. But I say, Nell, darling——” he was about to make an amorous speech, when the voice of the owner of the establishment was heard, and Nell said, quickly—
“There’s aunt calling me; I must indoors.”
“But I want to speak to you—have something to say of the greatest importance.”
“Some other time will do as well,” she returned, with a laugh.
“Will you meet me to-morrow evening at the corner of Dennett’s-lane, and hear what I have to say?”
“Perhaps.”
“Nay, don’t say perhaps; you must come.”
“Very well; I will, if possible,” and with these words the girl ran down the gravel walk and entered the house.
It was in the evening of the day on which Aveline Gatliffe had paid a visit to the earl that Nelly had promised to be at the end of Dennett’s-lane.