“If she knew that, I dare say she would never come back at all,” said Pen.
“A public-spirited female,” commented Sir Richard.
She giggled. “She has no spirit at all. I told you so, sir! Will the—the authorities wish to see me?”
“I hardly think so. In any event, they are not going to see you.”
“No, I must say I feel it might be excessively awkward if I were forced to appear,” remarked Pen. “In fact, sir, I think—I think I had better go home, don’t you?”
He looked at her. “To your Aunt Almeria, brat?”
“Yes, of course. There is nowhere else for me to go.”
“And Cousin Fred?”
“Well, I hope that after all the adventures I have gone through he will not want to marry me any more,” said Pen optimistically. “He is very easily shocked, you know.”
“Such a man would not be at all the husband for you,” he said, shaking his head. “You must undoubtedly choose some one who is not at all easily shocked.”