"As soon as Baines has set us down he is going to run the car into Chichester and back. I am expecting a man down for a couple of nights from town, and I told him to come to Chichester, because I thought we could pick him up from thence more easily. Baines will run there in no time--'tisn't more than twelve or fifteen miles each way, and he can fill up his petrol-tank there. He'll be back by the time we have done our sightseeing." "Bringing the man with him?" she asked, in evident disappointment. "Yes. By the way, it's a friend of yours--Mr. Ferris, from Perley Hatch." "_What!_" cried Virgie, with so sharp an accent of dislike that he was startled. "Don't you like him? I thought they were friends of yours--they spoke most warmly of you," he began awkwardly. "Oh, his wife is all right, but he--do you know, Gerald, I think he is odious," said she warmly. "It will just spoil our day, having him with us! What a pity!" "Have I put my foot into it? You don't know how sorry I am," said Gerald warmly. "I wouldn't have done it for worlds; but I didn't like him to come down and spend the evening alone in Worthing. I thought we could dine at Pulborough, and go home at leisure by moonlight." "Well, promise me one thing--you won't sit in front with Baines and leave me behind with him, will you?" she begged. "I really couldn't bear that. You don't know what an outsider he is." He was fervent in his protestations that she should not be left to the society of the dashing Percy. He was a good deal put out by her evident distaste of the whole arrangement. He had never heard her speak so decidedly about any one in her life as she expressed herself with regard to Ferris. The talk was put a stop to by their arrival in the narrow lane where a small finger-post announced: "This way to the Roman Villa." They paused, alighted; Gerald put a wrap over his arm for her, gave his final instructions to Baines, and the car hurried on to the forge, where the width of the road permitted it to turn and run back along the lane by which they had come. "He will be out on the high road in two or three miles, and then he can let her rip," said Gerald; "but he can't be back for an hour, so we will take things easy." They leisurely ascended the grassy field which leads to the carefully covered-in and precious pavements.