aid.

I replied for the little chap:

"It's not my rug; I am but the bail--"

"That's all right. Is your master nice to you?"

"But yes, lady. Don't you like him?"

"He seems to mean well."

"Isn't that rather unkind?" said Pomfret.

"I'm not in the witness-box now."

"Then there's no reason why you shouldn't tell the truth."

"Really, Pomfret!"

"Forgive me, Alice. I'm only a young car, and sometimes, when the
petrol gets into my tank--"

"I hope you don't take more than you should."

"I'm sober enough to see you've got a fine pair of headlights."

"I'm afraid you're of rather a coming-on disposition, Pomfret."

"Oh, I can do my thirty-five. His licence will show you that.

"Oh, Pomfret, did you get it endorsed?"

"It was his own fault. Kept egging me on all the time, and then, when
we were stopped, tells the police that it's a physical impossibility
for me to do more than fifteen. And I had to stand there and hear him
say it! He told me afterwards that it was only a facon de parler, but
I was angry. I simply shook with anger, the radiator was boiling, too,
and one of the tires burst with rage."

"And I suppose the petrol pipe was choked with emotion."

"And the engine almost throttled in consequence. But that is another
story. And now, won't you let me take you for a little run? My clutch
is not at all fierce."

My companion leaned against Pomfret's hood and laughed.

"He's a bit of a nut, isn't he?" said I.

"Do you think he's quite safe?"

"Rather! Besides, I shall be with you."

"That's not saying much."

"Thank you. And talking of gurnats--"

"Where will you take me?"

"Whithersoever she listed."

"Is it far from here to Tendon Harrow?"

"About sixteen miles."

"Would you mind, Hare?"

"You know I'd love it."

I started up Pomfret, and we settled ourselves in the car. As luck
would have it, I had a second coat with me, and she said she was quite
warm and comfortable.

Presently she told me all that had happened. In the morning she had
ridden alone to hounds. The meet had been at Will Cross. The mare was
keen, and for a few miles all went well. Then the hounds had split.
Most of the field had followed the master, but she and a few others had
followed the huntsman. After a while she had dropped a little behind.
Then there had been a check. She had seized upon the opportunity it
afforded her to slip off and tighten her girths.

"Wasn't there any man there to--"