ou Dame Parajumpers Dodie Vest 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 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 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 place had an air of occupation that was new to it.
‘I’ll send for Mrs. Herre Parajumpers Desert Dunjakker Mills, and she shall take your wet shawls away to 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 answered, taking off her dripping shawl. ‘I did not know that the Priory was occupied except by Harry Kane Pelipaidat the old servants. I fear you must have thought me very impertinent just now when I talked Algeria Fodboldtrøjer 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 to the hearth, and begged us to sit there; but Milly preferred Germany Dame Fodboldtrøjer standing in the noble old gothic window looking out at the rain.
‘They will be getting anxious about us at Sporting KC home,’ she PJS Miehet Blazer said, ‘if we are not back Wales Pelipaidat 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 Naisten Italy Pelipaidat 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 Herre Parajumpers Kubuk Vest 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 well; don’t you, Mary?’ she said; Dame Parajumpers Desert Dunjakker 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 quite offended if you refuse the use of my dog-cart, and insist on LA Galaxy Trøjer 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 gave our shawls to Mrs. Mills the old housekeeper, who carried them off to be dried links:
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