Traveling like that
day after day it would have been so easy for him to be officious.
But he never addressed her and refused to see any opportunity to
assist her in entering or quitting the stage, leaving that to
some one else. Presently she was sorry she had bowed to him that
first day--so self-contained and unpresuming a person as he would
evidently have been quite satisfied to overlook the omission.
Then she began to be haunted by doubts. Perhaps, after all, he
had not recognized her as the girl he had met in the road! This
gave her a very queer feeling indeed--for what must he think of
her? And the next time she bowed to this perfect stranger she
threw a chilling austerity into the salutation quite at variance
with her appearance, for the windy drive had tangled her hair and
blown it in curling wisps about her face. This served to trouble
Carrington excessively, and furnished him with food for
reflection through all his waking moments for the succeeding
eight and forty hours.
The next morning he found himself seated opposite her at
breakfast. He received another curt little nod, cool and
distant, as he took his seat, but he felt strongly that a mere
bowing acquaintance would no longer suffice; so he passed her a
number of things she didn't want, and presently ventured the
opinion that she must find traveling as they were, day after day,
very fatiguing. Surprised at the sound of his voice, before she
knew what she was doing, Betty said, "Not at all," closed her red
lips, and was immediatelv dumb.
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