But John Temple’s brow clouded, and he slightly shrugged his shoulders.
“My dear child,” he said, “that is a luxury which I am really not prepared to encounter. And why be in such a hurry to go over to Woodside?”
“I think my father would be disappointed if I did not go,” answered May, gently, but her face flushed and her eyes fell; “but I can go alone.”
“Then you had better drive over,” said John Temple. “And what would you like to do, Rachel?”
“Do you feel in the humor for a ride?” replied Mrs. Temple. “It is a fine morning; suppose we have a ride, John?”
“All right; what time shall I order the carriage and the horses then?”
“Shall we say eleven?” said Mrs. Temple, and she looked at May, but May’s eyes were still cast down. They, however, settled it thus, and when May returned to the morning-room about an hour later, she found Mrs. Temple already there, dressed in her habit, and John Temple talking to her.
“I hope May is not disappointed because I do not care to go to Woodside?” John was saying.
“She could not expect you to do so,” answered Mrs. Temple, just as May entered the room.
She heard the words, and somehow felt that they had been talking of her. But when a few minutes later the carriage and the riding-horses came round John Temple led his young wife to the carriage and handed her in, and nodded smilingly to her as he was turning away.