Mrs Lloyd was quite right; for a quarter of a mile out of the grounds, and down the principal lane, he saw a white dress, and his heart gave a bound, but only to calm down in its throbbing as he saw that it was little Polly, who advanced to meet him with a very warm blush on her face.
“Hallo! little maid,” he said, heartily—“out for a walk?”
“Yes, sir,” said Polly, all in a flutter. “I’ve been—”
“I see, picking wild flowers,” said Trevor. “Well, come, give me one for my coat.”
The girl hesitated, and then took a cornflower from her little bouquet.
“Thanks,” he said, smiling. “But I shan’t pay you for it with a kiss. I ought to, though, oughtn’t I?”
“Oh, no—please no!” said the girl, with a frightened look, and she glanced round.
“What?” said Trevor, “is there some one coming? There, run away; and tell your aunt to take care of you.”
The girl hurried away, and Trevor walked on, to come suddenly upon Humphrey, leaning upon his thistle staff, at a turn of the road.
“Ah, Humphrey,” he said, “going your rounds? I want to have a talk to you to-morrow.”