"But—I have come all the way from Ausone to pay you a visit!" explained the girl in hurt surprise. "Didn't you want to see me?"
"Certainly I want to see you," he replied smilingly. "But to punt up stream to Ausone this afternoon is going to take you quite a long while——"
"As for that," she remarked, "it need not concern us. I am not going back to Ausone."
"Not going back!"
"Listen, please. Monsieur Wildresse and I have had a disagreement——"
"Nonsense!"
"No, a serious disagreement. I am not going back to Ausone. Shall I tell you all about it?"
"Yes, but listen to me, Philippa. You can't run away from your home merely because you have had a disagreement with your Patron and guardian."
"Shall I tell you why we disagreed?"
"If you choose. But that doesn't justify you in running away from your home."