This is not a question, so Margaret thinks herself exempted from the necessity of answering it.
'Had they gone out riding before you got there?' repeats Prue, with feverish pertinacity.
It is a question now, so she must make some reply. She only shakes her head.
'Then you saw them set off?'—very eagerly. 'How did she look? beautiful, I am sure!'
'I did not see them.'
It is a moment before the younger girl takes in what the last sentence implies; then she says in a changed low key:
'You mean to say that they did not go out riding at all?'
'No,' replies Peggy, softly putting her arm round her sister's shoulders, as if she would ward off the imminent trouble from her by that kind and tender gesture; 'they did not go out riding at all; they sat in the park together instead.'
There is a short silence.
'Then he threw me over for nothing?' says Prue, in a choked whisper.