"Aunty will be sadly put out, too, for Captain Torrance is her bête noir. She shall not hear of my escapade from any one else, for after lunch is over I will tell her just how the thing came about, and show her the letter. It will touch her tender heart, I know, as it touched mine."
Full of good resolutions, Kathleen entered the house, and ran lightly upstairs to take off her walking trim. Halfway up she met with her cousin.
"Oh, Ger," she said, "I am glad to see you up. I was afraid you would feel it necessary to stay in bed all day. Are you better?"
"Yes, thanks, Kitty. Have you enjoyed your walk?"
"Very much, and I am as hungry, as a bear I was going to say; but I suppose even bears are not always in a ravenous condition."
"Probably not. Did you see Aylmer whilst you were out?"
Geraldine was looking at her cousin, and could not help wondering at the vivid colour which mounted to her very forehead at this question.
"Yes," replied Kathleen. "I saw him, but not to speak to. He passed me when some one else was talking to me."
"Then it was not he who came back with you to the gate a few minutes ago?"
Kathleen turned sharply round, and asked in an angry tone, "Pray, were you watching me? Is it needful that some one should play the spy on my movements, if I leave the house alone, and am absent for an hour or two?"