But he was not prepared for what she did say.
"We shouldn't, Mr. Stamford, we shouldn't."
He heard only the implied partnership, and threw his shoulders back recklessly as he tramped on.
"I don't care what we shouldn't do. If it's naughty it's nice. That's how reckless I am."
Her smile was wan; some anxiety too deep to respond to his banter was there.
"I don't like you serious," she said, "but—but you must be now." There was such innocent candour in it that he knew he wanted only to help her. Always when he was feeling most strongly the thrill of her presence, she disarmed him by throwing herself on his mercy.
"I'm going to be serious with you some time, Miss Bulkeley," he said soberly.
She ignored the warning.
"It's about Amos."
"If Amos isn't big enough to leave alone, he never will be. Anyway, Mrs. Aikens will look after him till we've had our walk. Now I've got you to myself, I'm going to keep you till dinner-time."