Warmly wrapped in sealskin, she followed him out to the natty little sleigh, careless in her happiness of the gloomy day and lowering storm clouds, little dreaming of what was coming.
He tucked the warm robes cozily about her, took up the reins, and they set off at a spanking pace, gliding gayly over the smooth crust of snow until they found themselves leaving the crowded city behind.
They had talked but little, but now Noel slackened rein, and said suddenly:
“So you really love Laurier after all?”
“Of course—when I am to marry him in two weeks!”
“Yet a week ago I could have sworn that you did not care for him.”
“Appearances are deceitful.”
“Yes, very,” he replied, with a low, bitter laugh, adding: “For I could almost have sworn that your heart had turned from him to me!”
“What egregious vanity!” cried Cora, laughing outright.
The laugh almost drove him mad. Striking the black, fiery horse lightly with the whip so that it dashed quickly forward again, he almost hissed: