Remembering that he was still holding her hand, she recovered it.
"Will you sit down ?" she indicated a chair.

He seated himself and Betty put a safe distance between them.

"Are you staying in the neighborhood, Mr.Carrington ?" she asked, rather unkindly.

How did he dare come here when she had forgotten him and her annoyance?
And now the sight of him brought back memories of that disagreeable night on that horrid boat--he had deceived her about that boat, too--she would never forgive him for that--she had trusted him and he had clearly shown that he was not to be trusted; and Betty closed her pretty mouth until it was a thin red line and looked away that she might not see his hateful face.
"No, I'm not staying in the neighborhood.

When I left you, I made up my mind I'd wait at New Madrid until I could come on down here and say I was sorry." "And it's taken you all this time ?" Carrington regarded her seriously.
"I reckon I must have come for more time, Betty--Miss Malroy." In spite of herself, Betty glowed under the caressing humor of his tone.
"Really--you must have chosen poorly then when you selected New Madrid.
It couldn't have been a good place for your purpose." "I think if I could have made up my mind to stay there long enough, it would have answered," said Carrington.