"I'll join you outside, Everest," called the Rector from the door. "I have to look into my study for half-a-minute."
Everest nodded and went up to his own room for his hat. Coming down he met Regina alone, on the stairs, and paused.
"You are coming this afternoon?" he asked.
She was by a long window, through which the sun fell on her. Her face looked just like a rose, in its pink and white colour, as she lifted it towards him, standing two or three steps above her.
"No," she answered, smiling, "mother and Jane and Violet are going, and the carriage holds only four comfortably."
"You and I could walk?" suggested Everest promptly.
Regina laughed outright as the picture of her sisters' faces came before her, as they would look if, when the carriage was starting, Everest left his seat to walk with her.
"Oh, no," she said; "we could not do that. My sisters have set their hearts on taking you with them to the Delameres'."
"Well, where are you going then?" he asked.
"I shall go, I think, to the enchanted garden—it is such a lovely day."