It fell to Dingee just then, to appear as a witness for the plaintiff. He came in, bearing a handful of wonderful hot-house flowers and a card.
'I done told him you was engageddes'pate!Miss Hazel,' said
Dingee,'and he beg for jes' three minutes.'
'Say I cannot possibly give him three minutes!'Hazel's brows were as near a frown as they could come.
'Then he say, tomorrer,' pleaded Dingee. 'Any hour Miss Kennedy please. Three minutes, one minute. He done set out for home, Miss Hazel.'
'I hope he will have a short, safe passage,' said Hazel: 'say that. And that I cannot see him either to-night or to-morrow or any day before he goes. And, Dingee!not a word more or less!'She waited till the boy was out of sight, and then flung the flowers from where she sat full into the fire.
If there was not a frown on Rollo's brow, there was a quiet set of the lips which told as much. But he waited. Knowing well that it made against her cause, but knowing too that it was his right, Hazel turned and laid the card in his hand: it was Sir Henry Crofton's. The frown came then, and the card was crumpled up in Rollo's hand and followed the flowers.
'Well, Hazel?' he said. 'You must feel the justice of what I said just now. There are only two remedies that I know. One of these you startle at. The other, is that you should take up your abode at Dr. Maryland's for the winter.'
'I could not do that!' she said hastily. 'ButOlafI have tried to do just right all these weeks. And if you think I do not know what discretion means, you can ask Mrs. Bywank.'
'I do not need to ask anybody for testimony concerning you, in that or any other respect. It is no question of discretion; except in your guardians; and that forbids them to leave you so.'
'Mr. Falkirk is not Mr. Falkirk!' Hazel broke out. 'He is all changed.'