"Then there's no reason why you shouldn't tell the truth." "Really, Pomfret!" "Forgive me, Alice. I'm only a young car, and sometimes, when the petrol gets into my tank--" "I hope you don't take more than you should." "I'm sober enough to see you've got a fine pair of headlights." "I'm afraid you're of rather a coming-on disposition, Pomfret." "Oh, I can do my thirty-five. His licence will show you that. "Oh, Pomfret, did you get it endorsed?" "It was his own fault. Kept egging me on all the time, and then, when we were stopped, tells the police that it's a physical impossibility for me to do more than fifteen. And I had to stand there and hear him say it! He told me afterwards that it was only a facon de parler, but I was angry. I simply shook with anger, the radiator was boiling, too, and one of the tires burst with rage." "And I suppose the petrol pipe was choked with emotion." "And the engine almost throttled in consequence. But that is another story. And now, won't you let me take you for a little run? My clutch is not at all fierce." My companion leaned against Pomfret's hood and laughed. "He's a bit of a nut, isn't he?" said I. "Do you think he's quite safe?" "Rather! Besides, I shall be with you." "That's not saying much." "Thank you. And talking of gurnats--" "Where will you take me?" "Whithersoever she listed." "Is it far from here to Tendon Harrow?" "About sixteen miles." "Would you mind, Hare?" "You know I'd love it." I started up Pomfret, and we settled ourselves in the car. As luck would have it, I had a second coat with me, and she said she was quite warm and comfortable. Presently she told me all that had happened. In the morning she had ridden alone to hounds. The meet had been at Will Cross. The mare was keen, and for a few miles all went well. Then the hounds had split. Most of the field had followed the master, but she and a few others had followed the huntsman. After a while she had dropped a little behind. Then there had been a check. She had seized upon the opportunity it afforded her to slip off and tighten her girths. "Wasn't there any man there to--" "Wait. The next second the hounds picked up the scent again, and, before I knew where I was, the mare had jerked the bridle out of my hand and was half-way across the first field." "And didn't anyone catch her?" "The man who caught her is a brute. He would have wanted to tighten my girths for me, and that's why I dropped behind. I felt it would be him, so I slid out of sight behind a hedge, and when I saw it was him coming back with her, I didn't want his smile, so I just ran into the woods and started to walk home." "Did he see you?" "No. He may be there still, for all I know." "He must have been having a roaring time leading the mare about all day." "I hope it'll teach him not to pester a girl again." I sighed. "Some of us are brutes, aren't we?" "Yes." A pause. Then: "But some men have been very nice to me."