Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/88

72 hands. It was too dark to enable him to see the face of either, but the presence and attitude were unmistakable.

"Stop right where you are! Who are you, and what do you mean by disturbing us at this time of night?" demanded the younger woman.

"I beg your pardon. I did not see—I did not know there was a house here. This dog came out where my horse fell down, and I drove him off."

"Your horse fell down? Where is it now?"

"Out in the road." "A likely story! You would n't leave it this way to come here."

"I beg your pardon. I must go back for it," said Robert, hastily turning about as he spoke.

"Not yet!" said the girl sharply. "Are you alone?"

"I am, madam."

"Where are you going?"

"That's a bit uncertain. Just now I'm going back to look after my horse;" and Robert once more turned away.

"Are you coming back here?" "I do not expect to."