"I see nothing ludicrous in it," said Lawrence grimly.
"No indeed," said Ruth, regaining her gravity, "'tis no laughing matter."
"Come, Ruth, if you have quite done your sermonizing, let us part friends at least."
"That is at an end," she said, settling her disarranged hood, and, drawing the handles of her basket well up to her elbow, she turned her face homewards.
"But you were going to the Hall?" he said.
Parting in sorrow.
"I was," she replied; "but I cannot face Madam Lee and think what you have become. Fare you well, Lawrence!"
"Ah, silly child! what should you know about politics? This comes, now, of meddling in things you don't understand," he said fractiously
"'Tis not I who have meddled with them," she said; "and I would give my gold and garnet brooch they had not come within a hundred miles of Stanstead."
"Psha! Go your foolish, obstinate ways, then, Ruth. Stay, first give me the basket."