With this awful image fresh in her mind, Ida could not even pretend to be cheerful, or interested in common things.
'Don't be unhappy about me, dear,' she said once when Bessie squeezed her hand, and looked at her with tender anxiety; 'I must bear my burden. Nobody can help me.'
'Except God,' whispered the Vicar's faithful wife. 'He lightens all burdens, in His good time.'
On the homeward road they wound near the base of Blackman's Hanger, and at this point Vernon got up and ordered the coachman to drive as near as he could to the old gamekeeper's cottage.
'We can walk the rest of the way,' said the boy.
'Walk!' shrieked Lady Palliser. 'Oh, Vernie, what are you dreaming about?
Mr. Fosbroke never said you might walk.'
'Very likely not,' retorted the boy; 'but you don't suppose I'm going to ask old Fosbroke's leave before I use my legs. Look here, mother dear, I'm as well as ever I was, and I'm not going to be mollicoddled any more.'
'But Vernie—'
'I am not going to be mollicoddled any more, and I'm going to see old
Jack.'
'Nonsense, Vernie.'