'Your brother advised me to come north,' Rob said, but Mary did not answer.
'I would not have done so,' he continued, 'if I had known that you knew why I stayed away from the house-boat.'
'I think I must ride on,' Mary said.
'No,' said Rob, in a voice that put it out of the question. So Mary must have thought, for she remained there. 'You thought it better,' he went on huskily, 'that, whatever the cause, I should not see you again.'
Mary was bending her riding-whip into a bow.
'Did you not?' cried Rob, a little fiercely.
Mary shook her head.
'Then why did you do it?' he said.
'I didn't do anything,' said Mary.
'In all London,' said Rob, speaking at a venture, 'there has not been one person for the last two months so miserable as myself.'