eeding way past the house to the beginning of the
avenue of trees, which he remembered from the previous evening's drive.
To his right, an open space of roadway led off in the direction of the
stables. As he hesitated, in momentary doubt which course to take, the
sound of hoofs in the avenue caught his ear, and he stood still. In a
moment there came into view, round a curve in the leafy distance, two
horses with riders, advancing at a brisk canter. Soon he perceived that
the riders were ladies; they drew rein as they approached him, and then
it was to be seen that they were the pair he had judged to be such close
friends last night--Lady Cressage and the daughter of the house.

They smiled and nodded down at him, as he lifted his cap and bowed.
Their cheeks were glowing and their eyes sparkling with the exhilaration
of their ride. Even the Hon. Winifred looked comely and distinguished
in his eyes, under the charm of this heightened vivacity. She seemed to
carry herself better in the saddle than she did out of it; the sweep of
her habit below the stirrup lent dignity to her figure.

But her companion, whose big chestnut mount was pacing slowly toward the
stepping-block--how should he bring within the compass of thought the
impressions he had had of her as she passed? There seemed to have been
no memory in his mind to prepare him for the beauty of the picture she
had made. Slender, erect, exquisitely-tailored, she had gone by like
some queen in a pageant, gracious yet unapproachable. He stared after
her, mutely bewildered at the effect she produced upon him--until he saw
that a groom had run from the stable-yard, and was helping the divinity
to dismount. The angry thought that he might have done this himself rose
within him--but there followed swiftly enough the answering conviction
that he lacked the courage. He did not even advance to proffer his
services to the other young lady, while there was still time. The truth
was, he admitted ruefully to himself, they unnerved him.

He had talked freely enough to them, or rather to the company of which
they made part, the previous evening. There had been an hour or more,
indeed, before the party broke up, in which he had borne the lion's
share of the talk--and they had appeared as frankly entertained as the
others. In fact, when he recalled the circle of faces to which he
had addressed his monologue of reminiscences--curious experiences and
adventures in Java and the Argentine,