She pressed his hand in acquiescence, her voice failing her when she tried to answer him. It was a singular opinion to have of a night so dark that they could scarcely see a dozen yards before them.
"You must take care and not catch cold," said Garden. "Was Miss Lethbridge well when you left her?"
Fred replied for Aunt Leth. "Yes, Dick; and she sent you the kindest of messages."
"It was very good of her to think of me. But you don't mean to say you saw her, Fred? She ought to have been asleep hours before."
"She is not going to bed to-night. Bob will remain up with her. Uncle Leth will take a little rest on the sofa."
"Well, perhaps it is natural. I must get back to the dog-cart now, or Tom Barley may be impatient. Drive on, coachman."
As Garden retraced his steps to the dog-cart he saw with his mind's eye Fanny's pretty face looking up through her tears, and the smile upon his lips was a proof that the vision was an agreeable one.
It was a little past four o'clock when the dog-cart drew up at the gates of Parksides.
"Now, Tom," said Garden, as he and Tom Barley alighted, "take me over the ground, and don't make the slightest mistake."
The strange task upon which they were engaged occupied them till sunrise.