rranging."

"Undoubtedly," said Blake; "that's your business."

"I suppose I must undertake it. The probability is that Mrs. Chudleigh
doesn't know you are at home and she must, if possible, be kept from
learning it until she sees you. As she's only down for a few days, I
expect she'll make her first move to-morrow. Is your uncle going to
the Croxleigh meet?"

"He is; so am I. Is there any risk of Mrs. Chudleigh's turning up at
the cover?"

"I don't think so. Foster has only one spare horse, and as he promised
it to Millicent I'll see she goes. I'm more afraid that Mrs. Chudleigh
will make Lucy Foster take her across to Sandymere in the afternoon,
and if I'm able to prevent that, she'll go alone. She has cultivated
an acquaintance with your aunt."

"Well," said Blake, "it's a long way to Croxleigh, and the Colonel
won't ride hard. He'll probably be satisfied with seeing the hounds
throw off and then go quietly home. As it happens, there isn't a
direct road."

"Where does all this lead?"

"I should imagine it will be four o'clock when he gets back, while by
leaving the hunt and heading straight across country I ought to beat
him by some time. In fact, I might get rid of the lady before he
arrives. After she has seen me she mayn't wish to stay."

"Very well," said Mrs. Keith. "If Lucy goes to Sandymere, I'll go with
them and hurry them off as soon as I can. Then I'll try to make an
opportunity for you."

After a few more words she dismissed him and turned back to Hazlehurst.
She thought the plan would work.

CHAPTER XXX

MRS. CHUDLEIGH'S DEFEAT

Challoner kept one or two good horses, though he no longer used them
much, and he and his nephew were well mounted when they rode to
Croxleigh gorse. As the place was difficult of access, the meet had
been arranged late, and it was after mid-day when they drew near a
broad stretch of furze on the crest of a grassy hill. Mounted men and
a few women were climbing the slope, the scarlet coats shining in a
gleam of light, carriages and motors were drawn up in the shelter of a
beech wood, and from the summit there fell a faint blast of a horn.

It was a raw day, with a nipping wind and blinks of sunshine that swept
across grass and ploughland and faded again. There were glistening
pools in the narrow road and drops of moisture hung on the briars and
withered fern along the hedgerows. Both Challoner and Blake were
dressed in sober tweed, for the