"
"You'll be that and worse if you turn back. There isn't a woman or a
girl about the place but will be making jokes about you if you funk it
now. Come on."
Simpkins looked back at the street he had just left. The people were
standing together gazing after him curiously. He mounted his bicycle
and rode on, followed by Meldon.
"I shall explain to Miss King," he said, "that the unpleasant situation
in which we find ourselves placed is in no way my fault."
"You can try that if you like," said Meldon. "But I don't expect
she'll be at all satisfied."
CHAPTER XXIII.
In spite of the fact that his trousers were white instead of black, and
that he wore a shirt with a soft collar attached to it, Simpkins looked
hotter and more dishevelled than Meldon when they arrived together at
the gate of Ballymoy House. They had ridden fast, and it was only a
little after five o'clock when they turned off the highroad into the
shady avenue.
"Now," said Meldon, "you can dismount if you like, and walk up under
the trees to cool yourself. I quite admit that an appearance of
breathless eagerness is suitable enough under the circumstances.
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