‘I understand that you think more of that old woman than of any one in the world,’ said Otho, surlily, ‘whatever you may profess; but I suppose you must have your way. And, Magdalen’—he dropped his voice—‘confess that you were worsted to-night. You found your master.’
‘If I did, he might have been more generous. It was an odious thing that you did, to flout me, and openly play the gallant to a little chit who has always looked up to me with reverence. I can never have anything more to say to little Ada, now; and I can tell you, the child was almost my only amusement. I don’t know who will afford me any entertainment now.’
‘I will,’ said Otho, with generous promptitude.
‘You can’t. Here we are, and it is snowing, actually,’ she added, as she let down the glass, and looked out. ‘Heavy snow! How on earth will you get home?’
‘I’ll walk, of course,’ said Otho, jumping out, and holding out his hand to her.
‘Walk!’ repeated Magdalen, pausing before she got out, to expostulate with him—‘walk over three miles in this driving snow—and on such a road! Indeed, you must not. If you wait, they will get you a gig, or a dogcart, or something; it will be lighter than the brougham, and you could put it up at your place till to-morrow.’
‘I’ll walk, I tell you. Come out; you’ll get your death of cold, sitting there,’ said Otho, gruffly and impatiently. ‘What’s a few flakes of snow to me, now? Haven’t I been in a fever all night? I tell you, I want to work it off, so let me alone.’
She had got out of the carriage, and they stood on the steps. She was going to expostulate again, but Otho told the men to drive to the stables, he was going to walk home; and they, nothing willing to turn out again on such a night,—a contingency which they had already discussed,—obeyed with alacrity. The two figures, dark and shrouded, stood within the porch, and Magdalen stretched out her hand towards the bell.
‘Stop a minute!’ said Otho. ‘Heugh! what a wind!’ as a screaming blast from the north-west whistled past the vestibule.
‘Otho, you must not walk home——’