She sprang up and went to him with a hand extended; he grasped it, and they stared at each other for a moment in astonished silence; then Celia burst into laughter.
"Why, how ridiculous!" she said. "To think of meeting you here, and in this way!"
"It's—incredible!" he retorted. "What are you doing here?"
"I may ask you the same question," said Celia.
"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.