“Oh no, Major Maitland indeed I cannot. I—I had been out, and I had just stopped a moment. I didn’t know it was going to rain.”
“But I say you are dripping. Come in and see your husband; he will go with you.”
“Oh no, Major, please don’t; please don’t mention it to him; oh no, please don’t; he would be very vexed. I shall be all right; I will go on at once and dry myself.”
“You cannot go alone. I will see you as far as your house. Here, take my coat and put it over your shoulders.”
The Major took off a heavy cloak with capes, wrapped it round her, drew her arm through his, and they went to her lodgings. She forgot Zachariah, Caillaud, and Pauline. When they arrived she returned the cloak and thanked him. She dared not ask him upstairs and he made no offer to stay.
“Please say nothing to my husband; promise you will not. He would be in such a way if he thought I had been out; but I could not help it.”
“Oh, certainly not, Mrs. Coleman, if you wish it; though I am sure he wouldn’t, he couldn’t be angry with you.”
She lingered as he took the coat.
“Come inside and put it on, Major Maitland; why, it is you who are dripping now. You will not wear that over your sopped clothes. Cannot I lend you something? Won’t you have something hot to drink?”
“No, thank you. I think not; it is not so bad as all that.”