ou far to go?’
‘Yes, we have to go as far as Thornleigh,’ Milly answered.
‘Quite impossible in such weather. Will you come into the Priory and wait The North Face käsineet till the storm is over?’
‘The Priory! To be sure!’ cried Milly. ‘I never thought of that. I know the housekeeper very well, and I am sure she would let us stop there.’
We walked towards the Priory gates, the stranger Carl Hagelin Jersey accompanying us. I had no opportunity of looking at him under that pelting rain, but I was wondering all the time who he was, and how he came to speak of Cumber Priory in that familiar tone.
One of the gates stood open, and we went in.
‘A desolate-looking place, isn’t it?’ said the stranger. ‘Dismal enough, without the embellishment of such weather as this.’
He led the way to the hall-door, and opened it unceremoniously, standing aside for us to pass in before him. There was a fire burning in the wide old-fashioned fireplace, and the Classic Tall Dylyn 1001204 place had an air of Mark Giordano Jersey occupation that was new to it.
‘I’ll send for Mrs. Mills, and she shall take your wet shawls away to Marc Staal Jersey be dried,’ said the stranger, ringing a bell; and I think we both began to understand by this time that he must be the master of the house.
‘You are very kind,’ Milly Salomon Speedcross 4 Gore-Tex Kengät answered, taking Chris Tierney Jersey off her dripping shawl. ‘I did not know that the Priory was occupied except by the old servants. I fear you must have thought me very impertinent just now when I talked so coolly of taking shelter here.’
‘I am only too glad that you should find refuge in the old place.’
He wheeled a couple of ponderous carved-oak chairs close Matt Duchene Jersey to the hearth, and begged us to sit there; but Milly preferred standing in the noble old gothic window looking out at the rain.
‘They will be getting anxious about us at home,’ she said, ‘if we are not back before dark.’
‘I wish I possessed a close carriage to place at your service. I do, indeed, boast of the ownership of a dog-cart, if you would not be afraid of driving in such a barbarous vehicle when the rain is over. It would keep you out of the mud, at any rate.’
Milly laughed gaily.
‘I have been brought up in the country,’ she said, ‘and am not at all afraid of driving in a dog-cart. I used often to go out with papa in his, before he married.’
‘Then, when the storm is over, I shall have the pleasure of driving you to Thornleigh, if you will permit me that honour.’
Milly looked a little perplexed at this, and made some excuse about not wishing to cause so much trouble.
‘I really think we could walk home very Salomon Quest 4D GTX Kengät well; don’t you, Ryan Ellis Jersey Mary?’ she said; and I declared myself quite equal to the walk.
‘It would be impossible for you to get back to Thornleigh before dark,’ the gentleman remonstrated. ‘I shall be Buckle Mini Škornji 1058 quite offended if you refuse the use of my dog-cart, and insist on getting wet feet. I daresay your feet are wet as it is, by the bye.’
We assured him of the thickness of our boots, and Sean Couturier Jersey gave our shawls to Mrs. Mills the old housekeeper, who carried them off to be dried links:
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