“Yes—?” she encouraged him.
“You will allow me to go before you, and tell them to come for you with a carriage.”
“I shall certainly allow you to do nothing of the sort,” she replied severely. “I suppose there is no one whom you could send?”
“I should hardly like to send Marietta. I 'm afraid there is no one else. But upon my word, I should enjoy going myself.”
She shook her head, smiling at him with mock compassion.
“Would you? Poor man, poor man! That is an enjoyment which you will have to renounce. One must n't expect too much in this sad life.”
“Well, then,” said Peter, “I have an expedient. If you can walk a somewhat narrow plank—?”
“Yes—?” questioned she.
“I think I can improvise a bridge across the river.”
“I believe the rain has stopped,” said the priest, looking towards the window.