“How do you do, Mr. Cossey?” she answered, coming to a stop and looking him straight in the face.
“Where are you going?” he asked, not knowing what to say.
“I am going to walk up to the Castle to call on Miss de la Molle.”
“I don’t think that you will find her. She is in bed with a headache.”
“Oh! So you have been up there this morning?”
“Yes, I had to see the Squire about some business.”
“Indeed.” Then looking him in the eyes again, “Are you engaged to be married to Ida?”
He coloured once more, he could not prevent himself from doing so.
“No,” he answered; “what makes you ask such a question?”
“I don’t know,” she said, laughing a little; “feminine curiosity I suppose. I thought that you might be. Good-bye,” and she went on, leaving Edward Cossey to the enjoyment of a very peculiar set of sensations.