The doctor uttered a loud “Humph!” and then remarked that he could wait.
He had to wait some time, as Dally had gone to keep an appointment in the meadows, and had come upon a figure leaning against a great willow pollard on the river’s brink.
The figure started forward out of the darkness and caught her arm, with the result that Dally uttered a little affected squeal.
“La, Mr Candlish! how you made me jump!”
“Why, what brings you here?” he cried, passing his arm round the girl’s waist.
“Now, do adone, sir; you’ve no business to touch me like that. What would Joe Chegg say?”
“That I was a wise man, and that it was the prettiest little waist in Duke’s Hampton.”
“Please keep your fine speeches for Miss Leo, and talk about her waist, sir, and let me go. I only come for a walk.”
“Nonsense! tell me. You’ve got a message?”
“No, I haven’t.”