That night Jack was more worn out than ever, and his back ached worse
than after the Tower, and though Bessie was to leave the next day for
home, he did not go to Abingdon Road in the evening, but went to bed
instead, and deferred his good-by until the morrow. So Neil had the
field to himself, and made good use of his opportunity. Together he and
Bessie walked in the Kensington gardens until they were tired, and then
they sat side by side on one of the many seats in a retired part of the
grounds, and Neil told her how sorry he was that she was going home, and
how lonely he should be without her.
"Ye-es," Bessie said, doubtfully. "I think you will survive;" and then
he burst out, impulsively; "I say, Bessie, I don't want you to think me
a cad and a sneak, when you go back to Stoneleigh. Don't you suppose I'd
like to have taken you round just as well--yes, better than Jack,
confound him?"
"Why didn't you then? I would rather have gone with you," Bessie said,
beginning to relent at once toward the handsome, good-for-nothing Neil,
who had his arm around her, and was looking into her face with his dark,
expressive eyes.
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