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Jane was hurrying back toward the house and the hopes of a bath before the proe that afternoon She turned a bend and knocked right into Mr Nobley and Colonel Andrews co fro away She was afraid she smelled like sweat after her surreptitious speed walk, but perhaps the exercise had also reddened her cheeks and brightened her eyes One can hope

"Pardon indeed," said the colonel "I was just telling Nobley here, I think that divine Miss Erstwhile sneaked off into the grounds alone Let’s see if we cannot find her out"

"Oh" Jane felt herself sway That encounter with a real person had roused her up insideon her shoulders like a potato sack, her bonnet felt like a vise, the sunlight scratched at her skin

"I don’t think I can do this," she whispered, too low for anyone to hear

"I say, Miss Erstwhile, you are tongue-tied today," Colonel Andrews said "What secrets is yourto hold back? Iup beside her to take her arm "Can’t you see that she is unwell? Go fetch soies, Miss Erstwhile Do sit down I will return swiftly" He set off at once toward the house

Mr Nobley put an ar her to sit as though she would break if breathed upon No o

"If you per beside her, "I will carry you inside"

She laughed "Wow, that sounds like fun, but really I’m fine I don’t feel sick, I just feel like a schmuck, and that’s not a malady you can throater at"

"You are ho for Molly, but all she had was this strange, sideburned ray and dull as oat She leaned forward, whispering, in case Mrs Wattlesbrook installed microphones in the shrubbery "I don’t know if I can do this" She shook the skirt of her dress "I don’t know if I can pretend"

He stared at her, unblinking, for long enough toserious," he said at last "Miss Erstwhile, why are you here?"

"You’d laugh at me if I told you," she whispered "No, wait, you wouldn’t, it’s not in your character"

He blinked as though she’d flicked water at his face

"Did that sound rude? I didn’t h, I feel so tired I just want to lie down and sleep until I’ain, but I’ve only been halfhere would let ain L just said ‘me’ a lot, didn’t I?"

He smiled briefly She noticed that his eyes were dark, a warbut a person she could actually know