They had left the house and were in the garden now, Mrs. Tiddy having lingered at the door to exchange a few words with Mrs. Ford.
"She is talking to my landlady," Miss Leighton replied. "She will be here presently. Are you in a great hurry to go? You have no objection to being alone with me for a few minutes, I suppose?" she questioned sharply.
"Oh! No!" Peggy assured her. "And—and now we are alone, I should like to say that I hope I wasn't rude to you the other day on the beach," she proceeded, looking distressed. "I would not have spoken like that if—if I had known who you were. I—I have thought of it often since, and I am sorry if I said anything you did not like. I was afraid, afterwards, that you were displeased with me."
"People are seldom pleased to hear others' opinions of themselves," was the dry response. "You evidently considered my conduct towards you had been heartless; but I am not angry with you, child. You only said frankly what you thought."
"Yes," Peggy agreed, colouring hotly in her confusion. "I am glad you are not angry, though, because I did not mean to be rude, and I am afraid I must have been," she added deprecatingly.
"I think you are prejudiced against me." Miss Leighton paused momentarily, and sighed, then continued, "Well, it is natural you should be. I am sorry, nevertheless. Cannot you dismiss all you have heard of me from your mind and take me as you find me?"
"I—I will try. I have not heard much about you, indeed! I never heard of you at all till after my accident! Then Billy told me who you were, and I was so surprised! Billy and I have often talked of you since!"
"Really? I dare say you heard Mrs. Tiddy ask me to take tea with her one afternoon, soon? I shall hope then to hear you play. I hear you are quite a musician."
"Oh, no! But I love music. I play to Mr. and Mrs. Tiddy every night." The mantle of reserve was falling from Peggy and the brightness was returning to her face. "Do you love music too?" she inquired, lifting her sightless blue eyes to her companion's countenance.
"Indeed I do; so we have that much in common, at any rate."