Clodagh freed her arm.
"Is it worth while? I tried to keep you two apart while I could. Now that it has become impossible——"
"But why should we be kept apart? What have I done?"
"Dear Clodagh! you know Walter—you know how entirely he disapproves——"
"Disapproves!—disapproves! What right has Sir Walter Gore to disapprove of me?—to criticise—to speak of me?"
Her voice shook, not—as she herself imagined—with outraged pride, but with uncontrollable disappointment and pain.
"Oh, I resent it!" she cried—"I resent it!"
Then suddenly she paused, turning to her companion with an almost frightened gesture. Up the long avenue came the sound of wheels and the rapid clatter of many hoofs.
Lady Frances put out her hand again, and touched Clodagh's wrist.
"Here they are!" she said. "I am glad to see your courage. I admire it."