"I know all about it, Rupert," she said. "I will go with Bob to the farm and you can go home with Lilian—that is, if Jeffry will be so obliging as to drive you home?"
"Certainly, ma'am," replied Jeffry.
"Thank you, Jeffry. You can bring back the pony-carriage to Westhill; Miss Nellie and I will wait there till you come."
Mrs. Coker now got out of the pony-carriage, and Jeffry took her place, whilst Rupert jumped into the seat opposite, secretly much relieved at the turn matters were taking. Two minutes later, the pony-carriage had disappeared from sight, with Wolf following behind.
Bob felt he had just cause for anger against Nellie; but when she apologised to him very humbly for the rude action which had been the cause of his accident, he could not but be magnanimous and forgive her, especially as her mother, too, seemed very upset. So he told her not to worry, that he was sure he would not catch cold, and that the only thing he was vexed about was that he feared his aunt would not allow him, after he had changed his clothes, to return with them to Haldon Hall to tea.
"You shall come another day," said Mrs. Coker. "Mrs. Wills will be sure to put you to bed as soon as you get home."
This proved to be the case. When Westhill was reached and Mrs. Wills caught sight of her nephew, without waiting for explanations, she ordered him to bed. The copper warming-pan, which hung against the kitchen wall, was taken down and filled with wood coals from the hearth, and in a very short while Bob was lying between hot blankets, a glow of pleasant warmth creeping through his chilled frame.
"I think he'll be all right—don't you, mother?" Nellie questioned, a half-hour later, as she and her mother were driving home.
Mrs. Coker assented. "I hope this will be a lesson to you, Nellie," she said, "and that you will not let your temper get the better of you another time."
"It was such a little push I gave him, mother."