Going along, Jacqueline sat back in the carriage, very quiet and silent. Freke, with his back to the horses, talked to Judith. Occasionally in the darkness, by a passing gleam, he could see Jacqueline’s eyes shining.
“What do you think of Major Throckmorton,” he asked Judith.
Although not versed in knowledge of the world, Judith was not devoid of self-possession. The question, though, embarrassed her a little.
“I—I—think he is most interesting, kind—and—”
“Military men are, as a rule, rather narrow, don’t you think?”
“I never saw enough to judge. I should think they ought to be the other way.”
“Every time I see Throckmorton, the consciousness comes to me that I have seen him before—seen him under some tragical and unusual circumstances. If I didn’t know that those who have good consciences, like myself, should be above superstition, I should say that in some previous state of being I had known him; however, I am too strictly orthodox in my beliefs to tolerate such notions. But some time or other—perhaps to-night—I intend to find out from Throckmorton himself if we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting in another cycle or state of being. There is, by the way, an ineffable impudence in Throckmorton returning to this county now.”
Judith suspected that Freke’s peroration was made with the intention of provoking a reply.
They were driving along an open piece of the road, and it was comparatively light in the carriage, although there was no moon. Freke glancing up to see the cause of Judith’s silence, caught the gleam of her white teeth in a broad smile. She was laughing at him. It certainly was delicious to hear Temple Freke commenting on anybody’s having impudence in returning to the county. Freke, who hated to be laughed at, promised himself he would be avenged. “I’ll make you wince, my lady!” he thought to himself. Presently, though, Judith said, in a tone with a sharpness in it, like one who has been wounded:
“I can’t imagine anybody applying the word impudence to Major Throckmorton. He is very reserved—very dignified.”