“Can I help you?” she asked brightly; and the old man planted his stick more firmly on the ground, and stared at her with grim disfavour.
“In what way, may I ask, do I appear to be in need of help?”
It was decidedly a snub, but some people are not easily quelled, and Mollie Farrell was one of the number. Instead of being annoyed, she was simply amused, and her grey eyes twinkled with mischief. He was a cross old dear, and proud too! quite amazed that anyone should suppose it possible that he should need assistance of any kind.
“I’m sorry,” she replied; “I thought you had lost your way, and that I might be able to direct you. Please forgive me for seeming to interfere.”
She took a step forward, but the old man’s eyes seemed to hold her back. He was looking at her fixedly beneath his heavy brows; such bushy, black eyebrows they were, and she fancied that the grim expression softened for a moment as he replied—
“You are right. I have lost my way! My cabman brought me to the park gates, and as he said there was a direct path across, I thought I should like the walk. As a result, I find myself completely out of my reckoning. It is a stretch of imagination to call this a direct path.”
“Oh, it’s direct enough when you know it,” said Mollie easily, “ever so much nicer than going round by the streets. It is a beautiful park, and we are very proud of it. When the trees are in blossom, it is like fairyland—you can’t imagine how beautiful it is.”
“Possibly not,” returned the stranger curtly. “In the meantime, however, there is nothing particularly alluring in the scene, and you will excuse my reminding you that we are standing in a direct draught. I should be obliged if you could direct me to Langton Terrace without further delay.”
Mollie laughed merrily.
“That is just what I have been waiting to do, but you would not tell me where you were bound. I am walking in that direction myself, and if you will allow me I will show you the shortest cut. I know the park so well that I can dodge about from one path to another, and cut off some of the corners. It is cold just here, but the cross-roads are sheltered even now.”