“What?” she replied. “Do you think I—! Pah!”
She turned her back upon him angrily.
“Mr Linnell,” she said, “you will not insult me if I ask you to see me safely home, even if I do not enter into any explanations. Let us go at once.”
There was a strange resentful hauteur in her tone, and Linnell offered her his arm.
“We will walk a little way if you wish it, Miss Dean,” he said; “but we ought hardly to leave Major Rockley in this state. My friend Colonel Mellersh—”
“Don’t mind me, Dick,” said the latter. “I’ll play hospital nurse, if Miss Dean will trust me with the care of the Major.”
Cora did not condescend to reply, but stepped forward as if to walk back.
“We are many miles from Saltinville, Miss Dean,” said Linnell, “and a post-chaise will be here soon.”
Further conversation was prevented by James Bell whispering hurriedly:
“It’s all a mistake, Mr Linnell, and the consequences will be terrible if I am found to have taken the Major’s horses. Can you do without me?”