"I have accomplished the distance from Wetherwell in one hour and a quarter," he announced, "which I think is very fair--very fair." "Wonderful," said Mrs. Corcoran, frowning at her silent daughter. "Incredible," Nare suggested. "It must be eight miles." "I thought it incumbent upon me to ride pretty fast," continued Sir Henry, "because a rather alarming thing has occurred." A chorus of "Ohs!" wavered about the gratified tricyclist. [Illustration: "A RATHER ALARMING THING HAS OCCURRED."] "What is it?" asked Mrs. Corcoran. "No, don't tell!" cried Mrs. Harrington; "not if it's horrid. I won't have my picnic spoilt. Be a gem, now!" "But, my dear madam"--Sir Henry's look was a rebuke to all trifling--"I dare not take it upon myself to leave you all in suspense about a matter which cannot in any event be lightly treated. When I say that a travelling menagerie at Sutley has lost one of its wild beasts early this morning, and that up to the time I started from Wetherwell no news of its recapture had come to hand----" He paused for an effect, and several ladies said: "Good heavens!" Mrs. Corcoran added:-- "And you rode over the moor alone?" A pleased smile was her reward. "I could do no less--yes--some say a puma; others a bear." Sir Henry rapidly answered a string of questions. "Perhaps it was a llama," suggested Miss Corcoran. "Judith!" "They're very dangerous, mother." "But in any case I'm very much annoyed," Mrs. Harrington announced. "Now everybody will want to go home, I suppose, though really Sutley is fourteen miles away, and--well, at any rate, we've all had something to eat. Sir Henry, come and be rewarded with lobster before we start." I think it must have been because Mrs. Harrington thought she owed her annoyance as much to the baronet's alarmist importunity as to the carelessness of the menagerie owners that she dealt so kindly with Nare afterwards. For it was settled that the picnickers should disband almost immediately instead of going home by moonlight--as Mrs. Harrington had desired--and in the bustle that ensued, while the rector was heading a search-party, organized by Mrs. Corcoran, to recover a shawl she was positive she had brought with her, and the baronet was being regaled on all the choicest delicacies that could be set out on cabbage-leaves by the more insatiably curious ladies, Mrs. Harrington drew Nare and Miss Corcoran aside. "Now, Judith," she said, "we shall all be starting soon, but I want you to be kind and show Mr. Nare the Mill on the way back." "Oh, but----" Judith began. "We shall catch you up in quite a short time, and Mr. Nare will protect you against the----" "Llama," said Nare. "Elephant or whatever it is," said Mrs. Harrington, smiling. "I'm quite sure he will. And you'll be doing me a favour. I've promised Mr. Nare should see the Mill, and I'll explain to your mother." "Very well," said Judith. "Perhaps we ought to start at once, then?" "Yes," said Mrs. Harrington.