And Rose felt quite crushed for the moment by the judicial air with which Pauline pronounced this judgment on her.
CHAPTER IX. PAULINE HAS HER SUSPICIONS.
Pauline and Rose went down to Woodcote on Friday evening.
Pauline had apparently recovered her spirits, and was in her brightest mood. She had been very sweet and caressing to Rose ever since their talk on the evening of Tom’s visit to the flat. Rose inwardly chafed at this show of affection; she had ceased to believe in Pauline’s sincerity.
Miss Merivale was waiting at the station for them with the pony carriage. The groom had driven her down, but Rose begged to be allowed to drive back. It was the first time she had driven the new pony, which was a pretty, gentle, timid creature, obedient to the lightest touch on the reins.
“We must take Miss Smythe to Bingley woods to-morrow, Rose dear,” Miss Merivale said, as they drove slowly up the long hill from the station. “The primroses are very plentiful this year. Tom says the ground is carpeted with them.”
Rose did not answer. The pony had started aside at the sight of a railway train that had just come out of the tunnel, and she was engaged in soothing it.
“Rose, you had better let me drive,” Pauline suggested. “I drove a great deal when I was staying with the Warehams. You are not firm enough.”