As he came around a bend in the road, he saw four women riding toward him, and as they drew near, he saw that they were Lady Violet Weatherbone and her three daughters. These young ladies were known as the Three Guardsmen, a sobriquet not wholly inappropriate; for, as Lord Frederic described them, they were “big-boned, upstanding fillies,” between twenty-five and thirty and very hard goers across any country, and always together.
“Good morning,” said Mr. Carteret, bowing. “I suppose the hounds are close by?” It was a natural assumption, as Lady Violet on hunting days was never very far from the hounds.
“I do not know,” she responded, and her tone further implied that she did not care.
Mr. Carteret hesitated a moment. “Is anything the matter?” he asked. “Has anything happened?”
“Yes,” said Lady Violet frankly, “something has happened.” Here the daughters modestly turned their horses away.
“Some one,” continued Lady Violet, “brought savages to the meet.” She paused impressively.
“Not really!” said Mr. Carteret. It was all that he could think of to say.
“Yes,” said Lady Violet, “and while it would have mattered little to me, it was impossible—” She motioned with her head toward the three maidens, and paused.
“Forgive me,” said Mr. Carteret, “but do I quite understand?”