At length he saw her
coming down in her hat and jacket. The rain still streaked
the window panes, and, in order to say something, he said:
"You're not going to the lodge yourself?"
"I've sent one of the men ahead with the things; but I
thought Mrs. Leath might need me."
"She didn't ask for you," he returned, wondering how he
could detain her; but she answered decidedly: "I'd better
go."
He held open the door, picked up his umbrella and followed
her out. As they went down the steps she glanced back at
him. "You've forgotten your mackintosh."
"I sha'n't need it."
She had no umbrella, and he opened his and held it out to
her. She rejected it with a murmur of thanks and walked on
through the thin drizzle, and he kept the umbrella over his
own head, without offering to shelter her.
Rapidly and in silence they crossed the court and began to
walk down the avenue. They had traversed a third of its
length before Darrow said abruptly: "Wouldn't it have been
fairer, when we talked together yesterday, to tell me what
I've just heard from Mrs. Leath?"
"Fairer----?" She stopped short with a startled look.
"If I'd known that your future was already settled I should
have spared you my gratuitous suggestions."
She walked on, more slowly, for a yard or two. "I couldn't
speak yesterday. I meant to have told you today."
"Oh, I'm not reproaching you for your lack of confidence.
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