‘She requires taming. Poor Phil,’ was the reflection of the practical-minded Coutts, as he turned away to bestow his attentions on beauties who would appreciate them more.
Mr Hadleigh understood why she desired to speak to him, and they went outside, walking slowly across the lawn towards the house.
‘There is no great danger,’ he assured her at once; ‘but he will probably be a prisoner for a few weeks. At present his chief idea is that we should say nothing about it.’
‘I should like to see him—if the doctors will allow me,’ she said after a brief pause, her head bowed as if she were studying the long shadows on the grass.
‘We can ask them.... Are you sorry that he will not be able to go with the Hertford Castle?’
‘How can I be otherwise?’
He did not speak for a few seconds—Then:
‘You sometimes puzzle me very much, Miss Heathcote.’
‘Why?’ she asked, looking up, and the moon shone full on her face. His was in darkness.
‘You seem to wish him to go away.’