"Ask her soon!" Then he bounced out of the room with his usual brisk energy, and shut the door noisily behind him.
VII Was it by happy accident or by some kind friend's deliberate provision that Fisher found himself walking alone with Molly Erle to church on the following Sunday?
Across the frosty park the voices of the other churchgoers sounded fitfully distinct.
Charlie Cleveland and another boy called Archie Croft, as hare-brained as himself, were making Mrs.Langdale slide along the slippery drive.
Mrs.Langdale's laughter could be plainly heard.

Molly thought her, privately, rather childish to suffer herself to be thus carried away.
Her companion was sauntering very slowly at her side.
"I think we are late," Molly presently remarked, in a suggestive tone.
"Are we ?" said Fisher.

"Does it matter ?" "Yes," said Molly with decision.

"I don't like going in after the service has begun." "We won't," said Fisher.
She looked at him in some surprise and found him gravely watching her.
"I don't think we ought to do that," she remarked, smiling a little.
"I'll go with you to-night," said Fisher, "if you will come with me now." They had come to a path that branched off towards the shore.

He stopped with an air of determination.
Molly stopped too, looking irresolute.