"No, Giles, don't let us stay. And I'm sorry I annoyed you. Cousin Dorothy can't bear me to do it. I didn't know. I forgot." Giles, smiling, suggested that the Lady Dorothy Byng would be wringing her hands all this time over Dick, may be. Her name loosened Dick's tongue, and he began to talk of her, and her goodness and beauty, and all she had done for him even before she had given that terrible promise, and to save his life had given her word to marry John Dent. "John Dent!" said Giles, frowning. And his horse reared, as if the bridle had been jerked suddenly, as indeed it had. "And how do you account for all this kindness being lavished upon you, sir?" he asked, "seeing, as His Majesty saith, you are not related." Dick looked at his friend with a shade of regret or apology. "I didn't know it was you behind His Majesty's chair last night, Giles, or I need not have whispered. But I thought 'twas her story, and I--" "Don't tell me her story, if you know it," Giles interrupted. "But, in one word, Dick, how would you account for it to the world?" "'Tis her way to be good to everyone," Dick answered thoughtfully. "And methinks she loves me--nay, I know she doth. But mainly, I think, 'tis because of my brother, who is dead." "A brother, who is dead?" Giles questioned. "Yes," said Dick. "But--but she knew him, and she hath never forgotten him, Giles." They rode on, and though Giles was silent he listened to Dick's talk, still of his Cousin Dorothy, and of his life with her, and of Philip, and Bridget, and Lorry, and everything else. They passed the Seven Thorns without Giles noticing it. His eyes were fixed on the horizon, where road and sky were meeting. Dick was glad he did not stay, for he was in haste to be home now. Who knew what might be happening? Things might have occurred since Captain Harland reported all well hours ago. When they reached the brow of the hill Giles struck in his spurs, and his horse bounded forward. Dick's pony put out all its strength and stretched its diminutive legs, but it was quite useless; in spite of Dick's admonitions the bay shot ahead in a few minutes, and Giles vanished round the first bend of the lane. "It's too bad!" Dick cried. "He'll be there first. His horse might want to see her as badly as I do. Get up, Fairy! Go on!" Fairy did his best, and he was panting and foaming when, where the lane broadened out before the gates, they came upon Giles talking from his saddle to Slingsby on foot. "Just as well, maybe," Giles was saying as they cantered up. "John Dent arrived before his time, Dick; and before his time has gone to his account." "Is he dead?" Dick gasped. "Yes," said Giles. "Hold my reins, Dick, will you? I'll see him, Slingsby." Dismounting, he strode away with his officer, climbed the steep bank, and disappeared.