"Sherman," she said, when she found her brother, "I saw the dog-cart at the door; were you going out?"
"I was, but since I came in, I have decided differently. Ring, that’s a good girl, and tell Powell to see that the horse is well exercised and put him up."
"I saw Marie in the hall. I’ll just send her with the message to Powell," said Carolina. "There is no doubt in my mind," she murmured, as she went out, "that the horse will be well exercised."
She sent word by Marie that when Powell returned he was to be told to see to the condition of the horse himself by Miss Carol’s express orders, and then to report to Miss Carol herself privately.
But these precautions were taken in vain, for not ten minutes had elapsed before Sherman was summoned to the drawing-room, there to meet the stranger, who introduced himself, told a most manly and straightforward story, and, having produced an excellent impression of sincerity on his host, left with profuse apologies.
Sherman returned to his sister with a quizzical smile on his face.
"Carol," he said, "what have you been doing?"
Carolina’s reply was prompt and to the point.
"I own to being reckless, of trying to conceal my recklessness, under a mistaken sense that I was clever enough to cover my tracks. I vainly endeavoured to spare you an hour’s anxiety, and I feel that I am a fool for my pains."
"The man is unmistakably a gentleman. He is in deep trouble over a young woman, not his sister, who has run away, presumably with a man. He tried to trace them and failed."
"Failed. If she is his wife, may God help her when he catches her, for there was danger in that man’s eye. But his pride forbade him to give me more than the bare facts necessary to explain his extraordinary action in surprising you into lending him my horse."
"Was that the way he put it?" asked Carolina.
She waited a moment, hesitated, and then said:
"Did he say anything else, anything about--"
"About the woman in the case? Not a word about anything more than I have told you. He seemed to take it for granted, however, that you were my wife."
"And didn’t you deny it?" demanded Carolina, with such spirit that she surprised herself. She felt her cheeks grow hot.
"I didn’t let him do anything. He mastered the situation, and carried it off with such ease that I almost felt grateful to him for borrowing the dogcart."