In another moment Sally entered also, when Mr.Darton dropped his companion's hand, led the horse aside, and came to greet his betrothed and Mrs.Hall.
'Ah!' he said, smiling--with something like forced composure--'this is a roundabout way of arriving, you will say, my dear Mrs.Hall.

But we lost our way, which made us late.

I saw a light here, and led in my horse at once--my friend Johns and my man have gone back to the little inn with theirs, not to crowd you too much.

No sooner had I entered than I saw that this lady had taken temporary shelter here--and found I was intruding.' 'She is my daughter-in-law,' said Mrs.Hall calmly.

'My son, too, is in the house, but he has gone to bed unwell.' Sally had stood staring wonderingly at the scene until this moment, hardly recognizing Darton's shake of the hand.