THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 163 



Although she was deprived of the pleasure of playing hostess 

 to the Duke himself, yet this was certainly the next best 

 thing to it. She was going to shelter one of the Duke's 

 particular friends. "Do come in, both of you, out 0' this 

 pourin' rain. Mortimer," this to the butler standing in 

 stately helplessness behind her, " ring for Henry to come 

 from the stables. Travers, go and take the young lady off 

 her horse." 



"Oh, really ! " began Trousers, wondering how the deuce 

 taking a girl off her horse was to be managed. He went out, 

 however, into the rain, having carefully put his hat on first, and 

 stood at the animal's side, gazing vacantly up at the beautiful, 

 though somewhat dishevelled, vision above him. Then the 

 vision dismounted suddenly, knocking Travers's hat off in her 

 descent, and it rolled away into the mud. 



" Are you quite sure it won't put you to any inconvenience, 

 Mrs. Binkie ? " asked Adela sweetly. 



"Inconvenience! Good gracious me, Vvdiat next? And 

 with all these lazy fellers loungin' about doin' nothing." 

 (Mr. Mortimer gazed deprecatingly at the floor.) "But I 

 hope His Grace " (she had got it right this time) " is comin' 

 in, too?" 



The Duke most courteously declined. The Castle was but a 

 mile and a half away, and he would not any longer risk the 

 chance of his horse catching cold. And with another Grandi- 

 sonian bow, His Grace trotted sharply off down the gravelled 

 drive, throwing a shilling to the lodge-keeper, who came 

 running out to open the gates, and making direct for home. 



Meantime, Adela had been handed over to the care of 

 Penelope, with whom she found herself much more at home 



M 2 



