"Come with me to the door, sweet Bet," said John lingeringly.
"Yes, even farther than that," she said, and she caught up her fur cloak, threw it round her, and followed him out to the garden gate. The crisp snow crackled pleasantly under foot.
Old Isaac, who held the bay mare, left them when he had given the bridle into her master's hand.
"They will be wishing to kiss, mayhap," he muttered to himself, "and I'll not stand in their way, God bless them!"
John Johnstone mounted. He looked up to the sky and said, "It is later than I thought. I have a long ride before me to-night, sweetheart. I have business near Newbury. I had meant to go home and change the bay mare for my faithful Seagull, but it is too late."
"When shall you be back?" asked Betty, who was used now to his sudden departures.
"To-morrow—to-morrow at latest, and my first halt shall be here."
"Are you armed?"
He gave a laugh, and pointed to his saddle, well garnished with pistols.
"They are loaded," he said. "For it might fall out that I should meet with Wild Jack."