"I am coming." At this point they arrived in the hall, and here she found Lucas Errol waiting to say good-bye to her.
She turned to him with desperate appeal.

"Mr.Errol, please don't let Bertie see me home.

I--I would so much rather go alone." She was almost crying as she said it, and Lucas looked at Bertie with most unaccustomed sharpness.
"It's all right," the boy made answer.

"We haven't quarrelled yet." The last word sounded ominous, and with her hand in Lucas's quiet grasp, Dot shivered.
"But I'm sure we are going to," she said.

"And I do so hate quarrelling.
Do, please, let me run home alone.