There was a little, pregnant silence. Nell's face had grown suddenly hot; she felt she dared not trust her tongue to speak again; she was shaken with longing to be very rude to Miss Kezia.
Miss Kezia hesitated, then she said:—
"Very well. And make her stay on her rug, and you had better not go far; the fog is deepening again."
Nell went out into the street. At the corner she met Ted.
"You? Where are the others?" he asked innocently, showing faint surprise.
"At Madame Tussaud's. Good-bye," she said.
"Where are you off to, Nell?"
"A walk—-a long walk—" Something prompted her to add, "just me and Kate Kearney."
"You needn't be afraid that I shall offer my escort. Am I allowed to suggest that it's beginning to sleet, and that the fog is getting thicker?"
The deadly politeness of his tone afforded her a small satisfaction.