In a moment he was at her side. "Will you not walk with me?" she said, without waiting for him to address her; and in a moment her arm was in his own, and they were strolling away. They went toward a noble old oak, in the branches of which was fixed a platform, and this platform was approached by a movable sort of ladder. The leaves around the platform were so dense that it was impossible to see any one who might be sitting within.
As Mowbray and Philippa approached, the ladder was seen suddenly to move, a little exclamation was heard, and the next moment the movable steps rose erect, balanced themselves for an instant, and fell to the ground, cutting off all connection between the platform and the ground.
At the same moment a triumphant voice muttered:
"Now let me see them interrupt me!"
Mowbray and Philippa did not hear it; they passed on, silent and embarrassed.
Philippa, it was evident, had something to say, and scarcely knew how to begin; she hesitated, laughed, blushed, and patted the ground petulantly with her little foot. At last she said, with a smile and a blush:
"I asked you to offer me your arm for an especial purpose. Can you guess what that purpose was?"
Mowbray smiled, and replied:
"I am afraid not."
"I wished to tell you a tale."