i6o THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 



somewhat startled the inmates of The Chase. When a 

 footman appeared in the drawing-room and informed all and 

 sundry that no less a person than THE DUKE and Miss 

 Comely had arrived at the door, Mrs. Binkie cast her new- 

 found dignity to the winds in a flash, and actually caught 

 poor Septimus by the arm and hustled him downstairs and 

 out to the hall door with her, Travers following closely behind, 

 in less than no time. The portals stood wide open, and the 

 light from within was shed upon two of the wettest and most 

 disconsolate-looking figures one could possibly encounter. 



The Duke, dripping, but courteous as ever, raised his hat 

 in that f/rand seigneur style which no adverse circumstances 

 could ever alter. 



" Pardon me, my dear Madam. I had intended sending up 

 a message, and am quite grieved that you should have come 

 out here to me." (He might have added, "but directly I 

 mentioned my name, jonv idiot of a man bolted away like 

 a rabbit!") "The fact is. Miss Comely here and I are 

 belated fox-hunters, and the Castle being a bachelor establish- 

 ment" ('at present,' murmured Adela to herself), "I have come 

 to beg the favour of a bed at your house " 



"Oh, we shall be so delighted to have a " — " Duke," she was 

 just going to say, when she suddenly pulled herself up short — 



"have a bed — two beds, that is " The Duke coughed — 



chill, probably, from the wetting he had received — then he 

 stopped the good lady gently, by continuing, " the favour of 

 a bed here for Miss Comely. Lady Comely's house is at least 

 eight miles farther on, and on such a night " 



" Oh, pray don't stop out there another minute, your 

 Dukedom," cried Mrs. Binkie, quite beside herself with joy. 



