Whereupon he took her head in his hands and held it back. Her eyes were tight closed.
“Eleanor,” he called.
“No! No! No!” she pleaded.
He brought his lips to hers. For a second she allowed it so. Then she opened her eyes wide—very, very wide.
“Dear you,” he breathed. “We have started on the Great Adventure.”
Then, for the first time, she saw a man’s face glorified.
“Come,” he said, “we must go back to Aunt Philomela.”
Her heart fell and all the way down the hill she clung to his arm. Every now and then he stopped and looked deep into her eyes. He made her very uncomfortable; deliriously uncomfortable.
Aunt Philomela was waiting for them in the sitting-room. When they entered she glanced up as sharply as she had the day Barnes had first made his entrance. The girl drew back and waited for Barnes to speak. He said nothing. She was sure her face was red and that her hair was in disorder.
“Well?” demanded Aunt Philomela.