“The young man flicked his whip up to his cap, and then dismissed me from his interest.
“‘Coming out, Ruth?’ he asked.
“She pouted her indecision.
“‘You shall have a ride,’ he suggested.
“‘No, thanks.’
“‘Well, walk a bit of the way home with me, anyhow.’
“‘I don’t know that I’m so very keen.’
“‘Oh, come on, Ruthie, after I’ve ridden straight over here to see you; thrown my bag into the house, and come straight away to you, without a look into one single thing at home.’
“‘It’d be better for things if you did look into them a bit more, Rawdon.’
“Overcome by the perversity of women, he said again,—