"And that is why you followed me to the garden?" said the captain, carelessly, though inwardly he winced.
"Ay. Your look seemed to promise—but woe's me! And yet you spoke of my running away again?"
"Oh, I talked wildly. I know not what possessed me. Some things I said must have been very strange."
"Why, forsooth," said she, smiling again, and colouring most sweetly, "they seemed not so strange at the time, for I had forgot you are to be married; but now that I remember that—Belike you imagined for a moment you were speaking to the lady you are to marry?"
"Belike that is so. But touching this marriage: what is to hinder your running away to your uncle's now, with a trusty person to conduct you?"
"My uncle, in his letter, said he washed his hands of my affairs. He counselled me to make the best of Sir Peregrine's estate; he gave me warning he would not harbour me if I came to him."
"A most loving uncle, truly!"
"Nay, his love had not altered. But what befell him in London that night gave him such a fright of meddling in the matter."
"Perchance his warning was only to keep you from some rash flight. And, mayhap, now that his fears have passed away, he would receive you."