Still she hesitated.
"I do not want to be late," she demurred.
"No, miss, of course not. I only thought as how we might come back by way of Chorly Fields."
"Round by the mill? H'm...."
"Yes, miss. Then as soon as we get past it there is a clear stretch of turf almost up to the house."
Her eye brightened.
"A gallop? Very well! But let us hurry on."
She touched the cob with her heel, and they trotted on briskly out of the leafy canopy along the road with blue sky above and pasture land around. After a little while the wood came in sight, and in a minute they were riding down the track at right angles to the road. Harper was at Diana's heels, drawing nearer. Half unconsciously she quickened her pace. There was not a soul in sight.
They were coming to a bend in the road, and now Harper was alongside.
Choking a ridiculous feeling of frightened apprehension, Diana drew rein.