"That isn't true," Halkett said, but despair was in his voice.
She was angered instantly. "I beg your pardon?"
"It isn't true," he said again.
"Very well," she said, and she began to walk away, but he called after her vehemently, bitterly, "Because I won't let you go!"
She laughed at that and came back to her place, to say indulgently, "How silly you are! I'm only going with an aged uncle!"
"But he's not the man to take you there."
"No."
"Come with me now."
"Shall I?"
"Get up beside me and I'll carry you away."