“Good morning, my love! You were late last night!” she said.
“I thought I was rather early,” answered Barbara, laughing.
“May I ask where you were?” said her ladyship, with her habitual composure.
“About a mile and a half from here, at that little cottage in Burrow-lane.”
“How did you come to be there—and for so long? You were hours away!”
Even lady Ann could not prevent a little surprise in her tone as she said the words.
“Mr. Tuke came and told me——”
“I beg your pardon, but do I know Mr. Tuke?”
“The bookbinder, at work in the library.”
“Wouldn't your mother be rather astonished at your having secrets with a working-man?”