He walked quickly through the wood. The dog cart he and Blair had engaged was waiting, and he dismissed the boy who was holding the horse. They had driven from Harefield, the nearest large town, to which they had come by rail, and were going to drive back and take the return train there.
As he had said, they had taken every precaution to keep their visit a secret.
After he had been waiting five or ten minutes, Blair came striding toward him. He was rather pale and very quiet, and signed to Austin to drive.
"I should drive you into a ditch," he said; "my hands are all shaky! Austin, she is an angel!" and his voice was shaky, whatever his hands may have been.
"Meaning Miss Margaret? She is better than an angel! She is a lovely and a charming lady," said Austin Ambrose.
"Isn't she?" exclaimed Lord Blair. "Austin, I did not exaggerate?"
"No; you did not even do her justice! I never saw a more beautiful and bewitching young creature! I don't wonder at your infatuation."
"Infatuation! I don't like the word. Infatuation is not love, and I love her more than ever a man loved yet, I think."
"And you are right," said Austin Ambrose, emphatically. "Blair, my boy, you are in luck. I'm not given to raving about women, but, upon my word, I could do a little raving about Miss Margaret!"
"Rave away, then!" said Blair, bluntly. "You won't bore me. Ah, Austin! if you knew how I hate all this secrecy and deception! I tell you I hate it! Why should not I declare my love for her to all the world? I tried to persuade her to let me go to the earl after you had left us, but she wouldn't let me."