The girl was silent.
“You never did, now did you?” said the man, his face all one bunch of geniality.
She nodded and laughed in an elfin manner.
“Perhaps I did,” she said. “What then?”
He breathed out a great grunt of satisfaction.
“I thought so,” said he. “Well, what’s become on it?”
She was laughing again, when Dennis’s voice came from a distance, calling her. At the sound she sprang forward immediately, evaded Mr. Corby, who had made a clutch at her, and was sped out of sight up the drive before he could collect his faculties.
“Missy!” he had called, as she ran from him. “You and me must meet agen and have a long talk. Missy! mum’s the word!” but she had given no sign of hearing him.
Left by himself, the fellow plunged into a ruminative mood; spat thoughtfully upon the ground; and then all of a sudden made rapidly for the gate and vanished up the road.