I asked Thomas if his mistress were going out for a ride, and he replied affirmatively.
"Who is to accompany her?" I asked.
"She gave orders for me to go with her," he answered.
"Very well," I responded, "take your horse back to the stable and fetch mine." The man hesitated, and twice he began to make reply, but finally he said:—
"Very well, Sir Malcolm."
He hitched Dolcy to the ring in the mounting block and started back toward the stable leading his own horse. At that moment Dorothy came out of the tower gate, dressed for the ride. Surely no woman was ever more beautiful than she that morning.
"Tom-Tom, where are you taking the horse?" she cried.
"To the stable, Mistress," answered the servant. "Sir Malcolm says he will go with you."
Dorothy's joyousness vanished. From radiant brightness her expression changed in the twinkling of an eye to a look of disappointment so sorrowful that I at once knew there was some great reason why she did not wish me to ride with her. I could not divine the reason, neither did I try. I quickly said to Thomas:—
"Do not bring my horse. If Mistress Vernon will excuse me, I shall not ride with her this morning. I forgot for the moment that I had not breakfasted."