Joy Gargrave flushed and then grew pale. “I am not surprised that you should wonder.... If you will walk on I will tell you how—how it happened.”
Without speaking he fell into step by her side, and waited for her to begin.
CHAPTER VI
THE CORPORAL HEARS A STORY
A LITTLE time passed before the girl spoke, and Corporal Bracknell, to avoid embarrassing her, looked steadily at the snowy waste ahead. The frozen river, bordered by the sombre pinewoods, was visible for some two miles, and where it turned round a high rampart of the cliff, a moving figure, clearly visible on the snow, caught his eyes. He watched it attentively as it came to a halt, and wondered idly who it might be. A wandering Indian possibly, or—The girl’s voice broke on his speculations.
“I met your cousin first, whilst I was staying in the neighbourhood of Harrow Fell. There was a shooting party, and Dick Bracknell made himself very agreeable to me. You are to understand that I was rather lonely, and that I was new to English ways, having lived most of my life up here.”
She was silent for a moment, and Corporal Bracknell nodded.
“I think I understand how you must have felt, Miss Gargrave, and I know that Dick could make himself attractive.”