"Look me in the face, Miss Maclean, and tell me that that is true."
Mona raised her eyes with a curious sensation, as if the ground were slipping from under her feet.
"No," she said, "it is not true. I rather dread the walk; but—you know I cannot come with you."
"Why not?"
She frowned at his persistence; then met his eyes again.
"Because I should not do it by daylight," she said proudly.
There was a minute's silence.
"Burns' substitute comes to-morrow," he said carelessly.
Her face changed very slightly, but sufficiently to catch his quick eye.
"And as soon as I have discussed things with him, I have promised to carry my old aunt off to warmer climes. I shan't be back here till August."