The first hundred yards of their course lay under motionless trees,
whose upper foliage began to hiss with falling drops of rain. By the
time that they emerged upon a glade it rained heavily.

"This is awkward," said Grace, with an effort to hide her concern.

Winterborne stopped. "Grace," he said, preserving a strictly business
manner which belied him, "you cannot go to Sherton to-night."

"But I must!"

"Why? It is nine miles from here. It is almost an impossibility in
this rain."

"True--WHY?" she replied, mournfully, at the end of a silence. "What is
reputation to me?"

"Now hearken," said Giles. "You won't--go back to your--"

"No, no, no! Don't make me!" she cried, piteously.

"Then let us turn." They slowly retraced their steps, and again stood
before his door. "Now, this house from this moment is yours, and not
mine," he said, deliberately. "I have a place near by where I can stay
very well."

Her face had drooped. "Oh!" she murmured, as she saw the dilemma.
"What have I done!"

There was a smell of something burning within, and he looked through
the window. The rabbit that he had been cooking to coax a weak
appetite was beginning to char. "Please go in and attend to it," he
said. "Do what you like. Now I leave. You will find everything about
the hut that is necessary."