"Why not? 'Tis too much in the world for me and Mark."
"'Tis the loneliest house in these parts."
"Too much in the world," he repeated.
"That's nonsense and foolery, if you like," she said calmly; "I'm sure love-making be all plain common-sense compared to that."
He pulled up and regarded her with a grim stare.
"I've found somebody to-day that isn't afraid of me, seemingly."
"Why for should I be?"
"For no reason, except that most others are. What do they all think? I'll tell you; they think I'm wrong here."
He tilted up his black wide-awake hat and tapped his forehead.
"Surely never! The folk only be frightened of your great wittiness—so I believe. Rupert always says that you are terrible clever."