“Do you wish you had?” asked Pen wistfully.
He looked down at her for an instant. “No.”
“Well, I’m glad, because if you had tried to, I would have run away from you.” She lifted her chin from her cupped hands. “If you are not sorry to be here, do not let us give it another thought! It is so very fatiguing to go on being sorry about something which one has done. Did you order any dinner, sir?”
“I did. Duck and peas.”
“Good!” said Pen, with profound satisfaction. “Where has Aunt Almeria gone, do you suppose?”
“To Chippenham, and then to Cousin Jane.”
“To Cousin Jane? Good gracious, why?”
“To see whether you have taken refuge with her, I imagine.”
“With Cousin Jane!” Pen exclaimed. “Why, she is the most odious old woman, and takes snuff!”
Sir Richard, who had just opened his own box, paused. “Er—do you consider that an odious habit? he asked.