"What I have said is quite final--if Lady Alanby should inquire," she
said--adding rather quickly, "Someone is coming."
It pleased her to see that he did not hurry to his feet clumsily, but
even stood upright, with a shade of boyish dignity, and did not release
her hand before he had bent his head low over it again.
Sir Nigel was bringing with him Lady Alanby, Mrs. Manners, and his wife,
and when Betty met his eyes, she knew at once that he had not made his
way to this particular garden without intention. He had discovered that
she was with Tommy, and it had entertained him to break in upon them.
"I did not intend to interrupt Sir Thomas at his devotions," he remarked
to her after dinner. "Accept my apologies."
"It did not matter in the least, thank you," said Betty.
. . . . .
"I am glad to be able to say, Thomas, that you did not look an entire
fool when you got up from your knees, as we came into the rose garden."
Thus Lady Alanby, as their carriage turned out of Stornham village.
"I'm glad myself," Tommy answered.
"What were you doing there? Even if you were asking her to marry you, it
was not necessary to go that far. We are not in the seventeenth century."
Then Tommy flushed.
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