"You must put on my coat."
He began taking it off when he heard someone beside them say:
"I have a great-coat here."
Robert turned round and faced Bardon, whose eyes rested approvingly on the gleaming froth of Bessie's hair.
"I'm driving home in my gig with a rug and hood," continued the young man, "so I've no need of a great-coat as well."
Robert opened his mouth to refuse. He was offended by the way the Squire looked at Bessie. But on second thoughts he realised that this was no reason for depriving her of a wrap; his own coat was too short to be much good. After all he could see that the acquaintance went no further.
Bessie had, however, already taken the matter out of his hands by saying—"Thank you kindly, sir."
"You see, this is my very best gown," she confided to Robert outside the house, "and I döan't know wot I shud do if anything happened to it."
"Well, you're not to täake that coat back to Flightshot yourself. Give it to me when we come to Eggs Hole, and I'll see that he has it."
"Very well, dear," she answered meekly.