"I'll tell you directly," he replied, "as soon as I've persuaded this pony that we've finished the trick act." "Celia!" called Lady Gridborough from the bank. "Come here at once. What does this mean? Do you know that young man? You greet each other as if you were life-long friends!" "Well, we're not quite that," said Celia, laughing. "We've met at the British Museum. He is a novelist." For an instant Lady Gridborough looked slightly disappointed; but it was for an instant only. "Well, he's a plucky young man all the same, my dear," she said. "He really did show great presence of mind, and has been awfully nice throughout the whole business. Fancy your meeting here in this way! What is his name?" As Celia told her, Reggie, having secured the harness sufficiently, brought the now placid and subdued Turk to his mistress. "Oh, is it all right?" said her ladyship. "Well, Mr. Rex, I'm very much obliged to you. And so you know this young lady, my friend, Miss Grant! Dear me, how extraordinary. My dear, is my hat straight?" It was resting on one ear; and Celia, laughingly, but gently, put it straight. "I was going into the village," said Lady Gridborough; "but I suppose I'd better go home." "Yes, yes; of course you had!" said Celia. "You must be very much shaken, if you are not actually hurt." "Very well, then," said her ladyship. "Get in, my dear. And you, too, Mr. Rex, if you've not already had enough of me, and Turk." "I'll come, and drive," said Rex, with marked promptitude. "Yes, do; though a child might drive him with a match and a piece of cotton now. This is a very interesting meeting for you two. May one inquire what you are doing in this locality, young man?" "I'm taking a bit of a holiday--well, scarcely a holiday; for I'm thinking out a new novel," said Reggie, modestly, and with a little blush. "Dear me, you don't say so," said the old lady, opening her eyes wide. "Wonder how you do it! Come in search of character, I suppose? Well, here's your heroine, anyway." "Yes, she is," said the boy, now blushing outright and nodding at Celia. "She's been my heroine ever since I first saw her--in the British Museum Reading Room, you know." "That's a candid avowal," observed her ladyship, dryly, as Celia laughed. They chatted in this pleasant fashion, and, in due course, reached the Grange. It was quite a merry little lunch, through which Reggie talked incessantly, to the increased amusement of his good-natured hostess, and confirming her good opinion of him. "Now, you two children can go and sit on the terrace while I have my nap. Wiggins, give Mr. Rex a cigar." The two went out on the terrace; and scarcely waiting for him to light a cigar, Celia demanded "his story." "Oh, well; I've had a stroke of luck," he said, with a long breath. "And it's all owing to you." "To me!" "Yes. You remember that 'short' I sent you? But, of course, you don't." "Oh, yes, I do," Celia assured him. "It was an awfully good story."