"You of all the world!" exclaimed Lumsden. "What's up, Flash? Playing lady bountiful on the sly?"
"I'm going home."
Bryan whistled softly. He was wearing a black coat with wide skirts, a low-crowned silk hat and the palest of pale blue stocks. His white breeches and boots were covered with mud and his horse's miry flanks heaved like a bellows.
"Going home?" he repeated, in open-mouthed surprise. "What on earth has happened?"
"Please let me go on! I've had bad news from home this morning, that's all."
"That's a fib, Flash. You've been awake again all night. The second time. Oh, fie!"
No remark from Fenella.
"Any one been rude to you?"
The girl shook her head.
"You won't tell me, eh?"