"Good-morning, Willoughby; it was not a morning to lose: have you been out long?"
He retained her hand. "My dear Clara! and you, have you not overfatigued yourself? Where have you been?"
"Round—everywhere! And I am certainly not tired."
"Only you and Crossjay? You should have loosened the dogs."
"Their barking would have annoyed the house."
"Less than I am annoyed to think of you without protection."
He kissed her fingers: it was a loving speech.
"The household . . ." said Clara, but would not insist to convict him of what he could not have perceived.
"If you outstrip me another morning, Clara, promise me to take the dogs; will you?"
"Yes."