AN ELOPEMENT
THERE were several other persons in the carriage with Agneta, and they observed me curiously as I slowly recovered from the effects of the rush I had made.
"Nan," said Agneta, leaning forward and speaking in an angry whisper, "what is the meaning of this? Why are you here?"
"It is I who should put such questions," was my reply. "Why are you, Agneta, running away thus? How could you dare to send such a false excuse to Aunt Patty?"
"It is true enough!" she said defiantly. "My head does ache; and I could not go to the Hall because I had promised to go to London."
"To meet Ralph Marshman, I suppose?" I said, carefully subduing my voice.
She nodded.
"Of course; but it is all right, Nan. He has procured a special licence, and we shall be married almost as soon as I reach London."
"Oh, will you?" I said to myself. "Not if I can prevent it!"
"It is perfectly mad of you to come away thus," she went on, "and you will do no good. How could you be so foolish as to leave the garden party? What will Mrs. Canfield say?"