“Yes?” There was the tiniest rising inflection in her voice, demanding an answer.
Across the little room Robin’s eyes laughed into hers.
“Perhaps I’ll tell you some other time—when I know you better,” he said.
At that moment Ann returned from speeding the Tempests on their way. Mrs. Hilyard rose.
“I must be going, too, I think,” she said. “But I don’t want you to trouble about driving me back, Miss Lovell. I’ll walk.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” Ann assured her. “Tell Billy to bring the cart round, will you, Robin?”
He nodded, and held out his hand to Mrs. Hilyard.
“Good-bye,” he said. “I’d ask you to let me drive you back, but that I’ve made an appointment to see one of Mr. Coventry’s tenants.”
A few minutes later Dick Turpin, somewhat annoyed at being taken out of his stall just as feeding-time approached, was bearing Ann and her new acquaintance swiftly along the road towards the Priory.
Mrs. Hilyard was very silent during the first part of the drive. She appeared absorbed in her own thoughts, and from the expression of her face one might have hazarded a guess that she was inwardly debating some moot point. All at once she seemed to come to a decision.