"I am tired, and I should
love a ride home. But I've still a little to do, and--I know it's awfully
late, but would you mind waiting just a little while? I'm afraid I might
be as much as half-an-hour."
"Right you are, Doctor Mary--as long as you like. I'll walk up and down,
and smoke a cigar; I want one badly." Mary made an extremely faint motion
of her hand towards the house. "Oh, thanks, but really I--well, I shall
feel more comfortable here, I think."
Mary smiled; it was always safe to rely on Captain Alec's fine feelings;
under the circumstances he would--she had felt pretty sure--prefer to
smoke his cigar outside the house. "I'll be as quick as I can. Come, Mr.
Beaumaroy!"
Beaumaroy followed her up the path and into the house. The Sergeant was
still on the floor of the passage; he rolled apprehensive resentful eyes
at them; Mary took no heed of him, but preceded Beaumaroy into the parlor
and shut the door.
"I don't know what your game is," remarked Beaumaroy in a low voice, "but
you couldn't have played mine better. I don't want him inside the house;
but I'm mighty glad to have him extremely visible outside it.
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