She was quite happy and gay again.
“And by that time your leg will be well, and we shall be able to go all over the country on our bicycles.”
“I think not,” he returned rather grimly. “I don’t care to see a woman at that work near the camp.”
“Oh,” she cried impetuously, “I thought you were quite above that sort of thing!”
“Did you? I’m not, then.”
His tone was the same, and she hesitated. Then she said more slowly—
“You’re not afraid for me, are you? Of course, when I was so stupid the other day, it was only because—because—”
“I’m not afraid,” he said, touching up the pony. “I think you manage it very fairly well. I don’t care about it for you—that’s all. Except quite in the country.”
Her dismay was so evident that he turned and looked at her.
“My darling, do you really mind very much? For my sake?”