"I protest——"
"Be careful, lest you protest too much, Sir Edward."
"You are unjust," he declared—"what other meaning could I have?"
Again the shoulders did duty. "I am a poor guesser of motives—particularly, when they do not concern me," she answered.
"Unkind, unkind!" he cried—then they both laughed.
"Let us go in to breakfast," she said.
They were turning away, when the clatter of a galloping horse, attracted them, and up the avenue, at full speed, came Henry Marbury.
"Why, it is father!" she exclaimed—"what can be the matter? he is waving to us—what does he mean?"
"Stay here, I will meet him," said Parkington, and hurried down the steps.
At the same time, a negro groom ran out from the stables, and stood ready to take the horse.