“Well, it—it—you wouldn’t understand. Has he been meeting you in woods for a whole year?”
“No, because Papa sent me to Bath, and Sir Jasper forbade him to see me any more, and even Lady Luttrell said we were too young. But we love each other!”
“It seems extraordinary,” said Pen, shaking her head. “You know, I find it very hard to believe!”
“You are the horridest boy! It is perfectly true, and if you know Piers you may ask him for yourself! I wish I had never clapped eyes on you!”
“So do I,” replied Pen frankly.
Miss Daubenay burst into tears. Pen surveyed her with interest, and asked presently in the voice of one probing mysteries: “Do you always cry as much as this? Do you—do you cry at Piers?”
“I don’t cry at people!” sobbed Miss Daubenay. “And if Piers knew how horrid you have been to me he would very likely knock you down!”
Pen gave a hiccup of laughter. This incensed Lydia so much that she stopped crying, and dramatically commanded Pen to leave the orchard immediately. However, when she discovered that Pen was only too ready to take her at her word, she ran after her, and clasped her by the arm. “No, no, you cannot go until we have decided what is to be done. You won’t—oh, you can’t be cruel enough to deny my story to Papa!”
Pen considered this. “Well, provided you won’t expect me to offer for you—”
“No, no, I promise I won’t!”