She added, a little ashamed of herself, "I have a headache." "I am very sorry," he said, crestfallen.
"It is only that I do not wish to be spoken to.

It hurts my head to listen." He meekly took his bicycle from the ditch and wheeled it along beside her to the Beeches without another word.

They went in through the conservatory, and parted in the dining-room.

Before leaving him she said with some remorse, "I did not mean to be rude, Mr.Erskine." He flushed, murmured something, and attempted to kiss her hand.

But she snatched it away and went out quickly.