disgustingly wet," said Norah. "Oh, and I
missed the finish--did you ever know such bad luck?"

"Well, you only missed the last fifty yards," said Mrs. Ainslie,
pointing to the quarry, from which the whips were dislodging the
aggrieved hounds. "We finished there; and that old fox is good for
another day yet. I'd give you the brush, if he hadn't decided to keep
it himself."

"Oh!" said Norah, blushing, while her teeth chattered. "Wasn't it a
beautiful run!"

"It was--but something has got to be done with you," said Mrs. Ainslie
firmly. "There's a farmhouse over there, Mr. Linton: I know the
people, and they'll do anything they can for you. Hurry her over and
get her wet things off--Mrs. Hardy will lend her some clothes." And
Norah made a draggled and inglorious exit.

Mrs. Hardy received her with horrified exclamations and offers of all
that she had in the house: so that presently Norah found herself
drinking cup after cup of very hot tea and eating buttered toast with
her father--attired in a plaid blouse of green and red in large
checks, and a black velvet skirt that had seen better days; with
carpet slippers lending a neat finish to a somewhat striking
appearance. Without, farm hands rubbed down Killaloe and Brunette in
the stable. Mrs. Hardy fluttered in and out, bringing more and yet
more toast, until her guests protested vehemently that exhausted
nature forbade them to eat another crumb.

"And wot is toast?" grumbled Mrs. Hardy, "and you ridin' all day in
the cold!" She had been grievously disappointed at her visitors'
refusing bacon and eggs. "The young lady'll catch 'er death, sure's
fate! Just another cup, miss. Lor, who's that comin' in at the
gate!"

"That" proved to be Squire Brand, who had appeared at the scene of
Norah's disaster just after her retreat--being accused by Mrs. Ainslie
of employing an aeroplane.

"I came to see if I could be of any use," he said. His eye fell on
Norah in Mrs. Hardy's clothes, and he said, "Dear me!" suddenly, and
for a moment lost the thread of his remarks. "You can't let her ride
home, Linton--my car is here, and if your daughter will let me drive
her home I'm sure Mr. Hardy will house her pony until to-morrow--you
can send a groom over for it. I've a spare coat in the car. Yes,
thank you, Mrs. Hardy, I should like a cup of tea very much."

Now that the excitement of the day was over, Norah was beginning to
feel tired enough to be glad to escape t