Yet, try as she would, she could not banish from her mind and from her memory the unnerving experience.
They were crossing the moat bridge when there came a shout from the house.

They all stopped, to be joined, a minute later, by Dr.Panton.
"It's an extraordinary thing," he exclaimed, "I fully intended to give up this afternoon to writing, but somehow I suddenly felt as if I _must_ look out of the window! You all looked so merry and bright that I have thrown my work to the winds, and here I am, coming with you." "I was rather counting on you to keep Miss Burnaby company." Varick's tone was not very pleasant, and Panton for a moment regretted he had come; but as he had passed through the hall he had seen the old lady nodding over a book, and he was well aware that had he stayed indoors, it would have been to work up in his own room.
Bill Donnington suddenly discovered that Bubbles was wearing absurd, high-heeled, London walking shoes.

"Go back and put on something more sensible," he said shortly; "I'll wait for you--we'll soon pick up the others." But Bubbles answered sullenly: "My heavy walking boots got wet this morning." Even as she spoke, she stood irresolute.

Why not make her unsuitable foot-gear an excuse for staying at home?
She told herself discontentedly that she hated the thought of this walk.

But Donnington would have none of it.