"It seems to me that men can gossip as much as women." "I tried to stop him," said the virtuous Mr.Tredgold.
"You need not have troubled," said Miss Drewitt, loftily.

"It is not a matter of any consequence.

I am surprised that my uncle should have thought it worth mentioning." She walked on slowly with head erect, pausing occasionally to look round for the captain.

Edward Tredgold looked too, and a feeling of annoyance at the childish stratagems of his well-meaning friend began to possess him.
"We had better hurry a little, I think," he said, glancing at the sky.
"The sooner we get to Dutton Priors the better." "Why ?" inquired his companion.
"Rain," said the other, briefly.
"It won't rain before evening," said Miss Drewitt, confidently; "uncle said so." "Perhaps we had better walk faster, though," urged Mr.Tredgold.
Miss Drewitt slackened her pace deliberately.

"There is no fear of its raining," she declared.