Guest flushed, hesitated, and—plunged!
“Why shouldn’t we go all the same? We can finish our business and still have time. If you will allow me, I’ll take great care of you and bring you home before it’s dark. It would be too dreary sitting up here by yourself, all the evening.”
Cornelia sprang to her feet, clapping her hands with delight.
“How lovely! How lovely! You’re just the nicest thing! It’s sweet of you to think of it! Go right away now, and get through with your interview, and I’ll join you in the lounge as soon as I’ve prinked, and gotten my face into order. I’ll hang my head out of the window, and massage my nose. ... Let’s go and be happy, and forget all our woes!”
She ran to the door, waved her hand gaily over her shoulder, and disappeared from sight.
Chapter Twenty Two.
When Guest drove round to the hotel next morning to escort Cornelia to the station, she was surprised to see his own bag on the roof, and to hear that he intended to accompany her all the way to Norton.
“I want to make sure that you are safely housed once more,” he explained as they drove off. “I feel a certain responsibility for you, and I think perhaps your aunt would like to see me, and hear from a second person that everything is satisfactorily settled here.”