“But you don't try to be!”
“No use in my making any such foolish effort, I'd be doomed to failure.”
“Good-by, Charley—I really must go—”
He looked up yearningly into her face, and yielding to a sudden impulse, she stooped and kissed him on the forehead, then she fled from the room.
“Oh, come back—Betty—” cried Norton, and his voice rose to a wail of entreaty, but she was gone. She had been quite as much surprised by her act as Charley himself.
In the yard, Carrington was waiting for her. Jeff had just brought up Norton's horse, and though he made no display of weapons, the Kentuckian had fully armed himself.
“I am going to ride to Belle Plain with you, Miss Malroy,” he said, as he lifted her into her saddle.
“Do you think it necessary?” she asked, but she did not look at him.
“I hope not. I'll keep a bit in advance,” he added, as he mounted his horse, and all Betty saw of him during their ride of five miles was his broad back. At the entrance to Belle Plain he reined in his horse.
“I reckon it's all right, now,” he said briefly.