“Certainly not; I can’t allow them to fish your water any more,” said Mrs. Dangerfield sternly.
“Oh, but really,” said Sir James with a harried air.
“No,” said Mrs. Dangerfield; and she held out her hand.
“But you’ll have some tea—after that hot walk!” cried Sir James.
“No, thank you, I must be getting home,” said Mrs. Dangerfield firmly.
Sir James did not press her to stay; he saw that her mind was made up.
He opened the door of the drawing-room, and they filed out. As Erebus passed out, she turned and made a hideous grimace at him. She was desirous that he should not overrate her apology.
CHAPTER XIV
AND THE SOUND OF WEDDING BELLS
Sir James came through the hall with them, carelessly taking his cap from the horn of an antelope on the wall as he passed it. He came down the steps, along the gardens to the side gate, and through it into the park, talking to Mrs. Dangerfield of the changes he had found in the gardens of the Grange after his last five years of big game shooting about the world.
Mrs. Dangerfield had not liked her errand; and she was in no mood for companionship. But she could not drive him from her side on his own land. They walked slowly; the Twins forged ahead. When Sir James and Mrs. Dangerfield came out of the park, the Twins were out of sight. Mere politeness demanded that he should walk the rest of the way with her.