Hugh had walked back to the village with Mrs. Colwood, who had an errand there, and it was true that he had talked much to her out of earshot of his parents, and had taken a warm farewell of her at the end.
"Why am I to be 'Henry'-ed?"--inquired the doctor, beginning on his cigarette.
"Because you must know," said his wife, in an energetic whisper, "that Hugh had almost certainly proposed to Miss Mallory before we arrived, and she had refused him!"
The doctor meditated.
"I still say that Hugh enjoyed his walk," he repeated; "I trust he will have others of the same kind--with the same person."
"Henry, you are really incorrigible!" cried his wife. "How can you make jokes--on such a thing--with that girl's face before you!"
"Not at all," said the doctor, protesting. "I am not making jokes, Patricia. But what you women never will understand is, that it was not a woman but a man that wrote--
"'If she be not fair for me--
What care I--'"
"Henry!" and his wife, beside herself, tried to stop his mouth with her hand.
"All right, I won't finish," said the doctor, placidly, disengaging himself. "But let me assure you, Patricia, whether you like it or not, that that is a male sentiment. I quite agree that no nice woman could have written it. But, then, Hugh is not a nice woman--nor am I."