The latter part of this remark was, needless to say, addressed to Victoria. “It's awfully good of you, Humphrey,” she answered, “but the Hammonds are on the road to Ripton, and I am going to ask Mr. Vane to drive me down there behind that adorable horse of his.” This announcement produced a varied effect upon those who heard it, although all experienced surprise. Mrs. Pomfret, in addition to an anger which she controlled only as the result of long practice, was horrified, and once more levelled her glasses at Austen. “I think, Victoria, you had better come with us,” she said. “We shall have plenty of time, if we hurry.” By this time Austen had recovered his breath. “I'll be ready in an instant,” he said, and made brief but polite adieus to the three others. “Good-by,” said Alice, vaguely. “Let me know when anything develops,” said Mr. Crewe, with his back to his attorney. Austen found Victoria, her colour heightened a little, waiting for him by the driveway. The Pomfrets had just driven off, and Mr. Crewe was nowhere to be seen. “I do not know what you will think of me for taking this for granted, Mr. Vane,” she said as he took his seat beside her, “but I couldn't resist the chance of driving behind your horse.” “I realized,” he answered smilingly, “that Pepper was the attraction, and I have more reason than ever to be grateful to him.” She glanced covertly at the Vane profile, at the sure, restraining hands on the reins which governed with so nice a touch the mettle of the horse. His silence gave her time to analyze again her interest in this man, which renewed itself at every meeting. In the garden she had been struck by the superiority of a nature which set at naught what had been, to some smaller spirits, a difficult situation. She recognized this quality as inborn, but, not knowing of Sarah Austen, she wondered where he got it. Now it was the fact that he refrained from comment that pleased her most. “Did Humphrey actually send for you to take up the injured horse case?” she asked. Austen flushed. “I'm afraid he did. You seem to know all about it,” he added. “Know all about it Every one within twenty miles of Leith knows about it. I'm sure the horse was doctored when he bought him.” “Take care, you may be called as a witness.” “What I want to know is, why you accepted such a silly case,” said Victoria. Austen looked quizzically into her upturned face, and she dropped her eyes. “That's exactly what I should have asked myself,--after a while,” he said. She laughed with a delicious understanding of “after a while.” “I suppose you think me frightfully forward,” she said, in a lowered voice, “inviting myself to drive and asking you such a question when I scarcely know you. But I just couldn't go on with Mrs. Pomfret,--she irritated me so,--and my front teeth are too valuable to drive with Humphrey Crewe.” Austen smiled, and secretly agreed with her. “I should have offered, if I had dared,” he said.