‘I’ll go and meet them.’
But before he could move, they heard the front-door open.
‘That’s her,’ said the dame, gladly expectant.
Madge entered the parlour alone; and Philip was surprised to note that she seemed to be a little startled by something—his presence perhaps. Next, he was surprised to note that she looked pale and excited.
‘Thou hast not persuaded our friend to come to us, then,’ said the dame, disappointed, and not observing Madge so closely as Philip.
‘Has anything happened Madge?—What has frightened you?’ he said quickly, taking her hands and gazing into her eyes.
‘Nothing has frightened me, Philip,’ she answered hurriedly, and with a remote sign of irritability at her present condition being noticed. ‘I have been running up the meadows, and I daresay I am flushed a little.’
‘Flushed!—Why, you are as white as if you had seen a ghost.’
‘Well, perhaps I have seen a ghost. Would you like to go and look for it?’
She withdrew her hands and went to her aunt.