“I guessed as much,” he answered coolly.
“But I was anxious to find or make some excuse for getting into Borton Hall.”
“May I ask why?”
“We were coming to that. The evening before we were speaking, if you remember, of most people having a skeleton or two in their cupboard, and you suddenly turned very grave. When I laughed, and said that you looked as if you had a dozen, at least, in yours, you answered, with deep meaning, that one might be as much as any one could bear. You were very silent for the rest of the evening, and I was puzzled, stimulated, pained, all together.”
“What, then?” he urged, as she came to an abrupt pause.
“I took care to sprain my ankle in flying from Bates’ bull.”
“Then you were not frightened by the animal?”
“I did not particularly like the look of him, but I should have passed him valiantly enough if I had not seen you coming.”
“Well?”
“You carried me into your house, and laid me on a couch, while you went for assistance. I had almost a mind to laugh in your face when you bent over me so anxiously at parting, and made me promise to ring for your housekeeper, supposing the pain should increase.”