"No teach you French? _Non?_ Extra_orrd_inaire!" She tripped away, laughing, while the chef tugged at his royal and M'sieu Zhames whistled. "Hang the witch!" the new groom murmured. "Her mistress must be very generous, or very positive of her own charms, to keep a sprite like this maid about her. I wonder if I'll run into Karloff?" Karloff! The name chilled him, somehow. What was Karloff to her? Had he known that she was to be in Washington for the winter? What irony, if fate should make him the groom and Karloff the bridegroom! If Karloff loved her, he could press his suit frankly and openly. And, as matters stood, what chance on earth had he, Warburton? "Chuck was right; I've made a mistake, and I am beginning to regret it the very first morning." He snapped his fingers and proceeded to the right wing, where the horses were. At nine o'clock he led Jane and Dick out to the porte-cochere and waited. He had not long to loiter, for she came out at once, drawing on her gauntlets and taking in long breaths of the morning air. She nodded briefly, but pleasantly, and came down the steps. Her riding-habit was of the conventional black, and her small, shapely boots were of patent-leather. She wore no hat on her glorious head, which showed her good sense and her scorn for freckles and sunburn. But nature had given her one of those rare complexions upon which the sun and the wind have but trifling effect. "We shall ride north, James; the roads are better and freer. Jane has a horror of cars." "Yes, Miss Annesley,"--deferentially. "You will have to teach me the lay of the land hereabouts, as I am rather green." "I'll see to it that you are made perfectly familiar with the roads. You do not know Washington very well, then?" "No, Miss. Shall I give you a--er--boot up?" He blushed. He had almost said "leg up". She assented, and raised her boot, under which he placed his palm, and sprang into the saddle. He mounted in his turn and waited. "When we ride alone, James, I shall not object to your riding at my side; but when I have guests, always remember to keep five yards to the rear." "Yes, Miss." If he could have got rid of the idea of Karloff and the possibilities which his name suggested, all this would have appealed to him as exceedingly funny. "Forward, then!"--and she touched Jane's flank with her crop.