"O!" says Molly, shooting a little glance at him over her work.
"Do you think she would care to?" asks the doctor, bringing his arms forward and stooping to pick up his stick, which is also on the grass.
"I don't know really," replies Molly carelessly; "you had better ask her. I am not sure, though, that I shall not go myself. I suppose I should do as well? Dick wanted one of us to walk over to the mere this evening with him and Jack Bolton, and--yes, I think he said Ernest Hildyard was to be one of the party. Why, what in the world are you getting so red about? Don't, it makes one hotter than ever!" and Molly, biting her thread, takes another little look at her companion.
"Better stick to his reading," she hears him mutter to himself, and then he begins hitting at the turf with his stick.
"Well, he is a bit lazy, I suppose; but then so are lots of other people, and I don't see why he should be expected to stay in on such a lovely evening as this will be. Oh, _please_ take care! You'll hit my foot in a minute; besides, you are spoiling the turf."
"I'm sure I beg your pardon," says Dr. John, now stooping for his hat also. "I think I had better be going. I will call for Daisy alone, then."
"What has made you so cross?" inquires teasing Molly, searching amongst her cottons. "I really think it is most ungracious of you to say you 'will go _alone_ to fetch Daisy' when I have only this moment offered myself as a companion. Now, don't go--sit down again, and I will tell you something."
"Pooh!" mutters the young man crossly, "what's the use?"
"It _isn't_ pooh," says Molly severely; "and it is a great deal of use, if you choose to listen. _I_ am going on this expedition with the boys this evening, and Honor, as far as I know, is going to stay at home; unless," she wickedly adds, "you should care to ask _her_ instead of _me_ to walk up to the Rosery with you. If you do, and she does go, I advise you to be a little more amiable. Now, _please_ leave that silk alone: you are getting it into a frightful tangle!"
"What a tease you are, Molly!" says Dr. Sinclair, looking, however, more cheerful on the whole.
"You said Honor was going for a walk with that young idiot, Hildyard."
"Well, why shouldn't she? But, as it happens, I did _not_ say anything of the kind. I said the boys wanted _one_ of us to go, and Honor never dreamed of going any more than _you_ did. You shouldn't jump at conclusions so quickly. Now, tell me, what do you think of this news about Doris?"