She could see the mischief dancing in his eyes, and grabbed the package. Then she laughed.
“Our handkerchiefs! It was very kind of Mrs. Bolland——”
“I think Dr. MacGregor had them washed.”
This puzzled her, but a more personal topic was present in her mind.
“I saw you a little while ago,” she said. “You were engaged, or I would have asked you if you were recovering all right. Your hands and arms are yet bound up, I see. Do they hurt you much?”
“No. Not a bit.”
He felt absurdly tongue-tied, but bravely continued:
“I was told to take Miss Saumarez home. That is how you happened to meet us together.”
“Indeed,” she said, drawing back a little. Her tone conveyed that any explanation of Miss Saumarez’s companionship was unnecessary. No other attitude could have set Martin’s wits at work more effectually. He, too, retreated a pace.
“I’m very sorry if I disturbed you,” he said. “I was going to ring for one of the servants.”