The girl, after the first surprise, had demeaned herself admirably, and now stood in the attitude proper to a confidential servant; solicitous, respectful, prepared to blink the peccadillo, even to sympathise discreetly at a hint given.
"I'm sorry, Miss, that I opened it; I ought to have told you, but you took me by surprise.

You know, Miss, that you gave me leave to run down to my aunt's this evening; and on my way back--just as I was letting myself in by the nursery gate, Mr.Raoul comes tearing up the hill after me and slips this into my hand.

To tell you the truth, it rather frightened me being run after like that.

And he said something and ran back--for nine was just striking, and in a moment the Ting-tang would be ringing and he must be back to answer his name.

So in my fluster I didn't catch what he meant.