“Oh, I couldn’t give Ralph up. Why, I love him!” cried the girl, sharply. “And I don’t know why it is that I have come out with you, Mr. Atherton. I know Ralph would not like it. Oh, I am sure it is wicked!”
Poor, weak, little Dollie was growing hysterical now, and the next moment she found her head resting on her employer’s shoulder.
As the lawyer leaned over to pull down the carriage blind he became suddenly aware that some one was looking in at the window.
“The impudence of that fellow,” he muttered between his teeth. “It is a chap on horseback, and he was trying to peep,” he explained to Dollie. The next instant he bent boldly and pressed a kiss on her forehead.
“Oh, Mr. Atherton, you mustn’t,” cried Dollie in genuine alarm, but as she tried to draw herself away from him he only held her tighter.
“Let go of me this minute,” she gasped, stamping her foot in anger. Her cheeks were like roses now and her eyes like purple pansies. As her lips trembled with anger they seemed more tempting than ever, and Augustus Atherton, unable to resist her beauty, made another attempt to draw her head to his bosom.
With the frenzy of despair Dollie tore herself away and as quick as a flash uncovered the tiny window.
One glance through the pane made her almost shout for joy, for there, still riding his mount as close to the carriage as possible, was Bert Jackson, in all the glory of his lately acquired finery.
“Oh, Bert, save me!” shrieked Dollie, and that second the horses were stopped.
Bert Jackson sprang to the ground and threw the carriage door open.