"
I crept out of the glade as I had entered it and he followed me. When we
both stood upright in the wood-path we laughed together.
"I believe I knew the place of old," he said, "when I was a little
urchin. Sure there's no place like home, after all."
I had been wondering who he might be, and had fancied he was a visitor
at one of the houses of the neighbourhood, perhaps at the Ardaraghs',
but his speech showed me that he must belong to the county.
"My grandfather would like to thank you," I said, as we walked along the
wood-path, where I was glad of his company. Now that the shades closed
in, and with the postern gate open, how could I tell that Richard Dawson
might not lie in wait for me? He had thought me a peasant girl, the
wretch, and offered me money for my kisses. The wave of resentment and
disgust in my mind swelled to the full. This gentleman who walked beside
me had known me for a lady despite my print frock. I was furious for the
moment with Lady Ardaragh and the others who would admit such people as
the Dawsons to their drawing-rooms, and I was proud to think that
Aghadoe Abbey shut its doors against mere money. There were few things
we thought less of than money at Aghadoe.
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