He thought a moment. "She didn't go over with me. I went alone—after the child came out."
"You were there when Manning brought her?"—Mrs. Beever wondered. "Manning didn't tell me that."
"I found Rose on the lawn—with Mr. Bream—when I brought back your boat. He left us together—after inviting me to Bounds—and then the little girl arrived. Rose let me hold her, and I was with them till Miss Martle appeared. Then I—rather uncivilly—went off."
"You went without Rose?" Mrs. Beever asked.
"Yes—I left her with the little girl and Miss Martle." The marked effect of this statement made him add: "Was it your impression I didn't?"
His companion, before answering him, dropped into a seat and stared up at him; after which she articulated: "I'll tell you later. You left them," she demanded, "in the garden with the child?"
"In the garden with the child."
"Then you hadn't taken her?"
Dennis had for some seconds a failure either of memory or of courage; but whichever it was he
