He drew bridle abreast of her, stared, sprang from his saddle and, cap in hand, came up to her holding out his hand:
"Miss West!" he exclaimed. "How on earth did you ever find your way into my woods?"
"I don't know, Mr. Cardemon," she said, thankful to encounter even him in her dilemma. "I must have walked a great deal farther than I meant to."
"You've walked at least five miles if you came by road; and nobody knows how far if you came across country," he said, staring at her out of his slightly prominent eyes.
"I did come across country. And if you will be kind enough to start me toward home—"
"You mean to walk back!"
"Of course I do."
"I won't permit it!" he exclaimed. "It's only a little way across to the house and we'll just step over and I'll have a car brought around for you—"
"Thank you, I am not tired—"
"You are on my land, therefore you are my guest," he insisted. "I am not going to let you go back on foot—"