‘That’s what I don’t like about you.’  Louise withdrew her arm petulantly.  ’You always speak as if I couldn’t help myself.  Don’t you suppose I have any choice?’

‘Plenty, no doubt,’ was the grim answer.

‘Whenever we begin to quarrel it’s your fault,’ pursued Miss Derrick, with unaccustomed moderation of tone.  ’I never knew a man who behaved like you do.  You seem to think the way to make anyone like you is to bully them.  We should have got on very much better if you had tried to be pleasant.’

‘I don’t think we’ve got along badly, all things considered,’ Cobb replied, as if after weighing a doubt.  ’We’d a good deal rather be together than apart, it seems to me; or else, why do we keep meeting?  And I don’t want to bully anybody—­least of all, you.  It’s a way I have of talking, I suppose.  You must judge a man by his actions and his meaning, not by the tone of his voice.  You know very well what a great deal I think of you.  Of course I don’t like it when you begin to speak as if you were only playing with me; nobody would.’

‘I’m serious enough,’ said Louise, trying to hold the umbrella over her companion, and only succeeding in directing moisture down the back of his neck.  ’And it’s partly through you that I’ve got into such difficulties.’

‘How do you make that out?’

‘If it wasn’t for you, I should very likely marry Mr. Bowling.’

‘Oh, he’s asked you, has he?’ cried Cobb, staring at her.  ’Why didn’t you tell me that before?—­Don’t let me stand in your way.  I dare say he’s just the kind of man for you.  At all events, he’s like you in not knowing his own mind.’

‘Go on!  Go on!’ Louise exclaimed carelessly.  ’There’s plenty of time.  Say all you’ve got to say.’

From the gloom of the eastward sky came a rattling of thunder, like quick pistol-shots.  Cobb checked his steps.

’We mustn’t go any further.  You’re getting wet, and the rain isn’t likely to stop.’

‘I shall not go back,’ Louise answered, ’until something has been settled.’  And she stood before him, her eyes cast down, whilst Cobb looked at the darkening sky.  ’I want to know what’s going to become of me.  The Mumfords won’t keep me much longer, and I don’t wish to stay where I’m not wanted.’

‘Let us walk down the hill.’

A flash of lightning made Louise start, and the thunder rattled again.  But only light drops were falling.  The girl stood her ground.

’I want to know what I am to do.  If you can’t help me, say so, and let me go my own way.’

’Of course I can help you.  That is, if you’ll be honest with me.  I want to know, first of all, whether you’ve been encouraging that man Bowling.’

‘No, I haven’t.’

’Very well, I believe you.  And now I’ll make you a fair offer.  Marry me as soon as I can make the arrangements, and I’ll pay all you owe, and see that you are in comfortable lodgings until I’ve time to get a house.  It could be done before I go to Bristol, and then, of course, you could go with me.’