“I haven’t the slightest idea,” replied Sir Richard. “And presently I shall have something to say to you on the subject of this idiotic escapade of yours! My good child, can’t you stop crying?”
“What is she doing here?” asked Pen, unmoved by his strictures.
“Heaven knows! I found her lying on the path. How does one make a female stop crying?”
“I shouldn’t think you could. She’s going to have a fit of the vapours, I expect. And I do not see why you should hug people, if you don’t know who they are.”
“I was not hugging her.”
“It looked like it to me,” argued Pen.
“I suppose,” said Sir Richard sardonically, “you would have had me step over her, and walk on?”
“Yes, I would,” replied Pen promptly.
“Don’t be a little fool! The girl had fainted.”
“Oh!” Pen moved forward. “I wonder what made her do that? You know, it all seems extremely odd to me.”