"You must forgive us both," said the lady, turning her mount towards Gramarye. "We've had a bad day. Quite early on we took the deuce of a toss, and I lost him. A labourer caught him, and then let him go again. By the time I'd got him, the hounds were miles away. I'd never 've believed it was possible to go so fast or so far as I did and never hear of them. After two solid hours I gave it up."
Anthony was walking by her side, listening gravely.
"What a shame!" he said. Then: "I hope you weren't hurt."
"Shoulder's a bit stiff. I fell on the point. But a hot bath'll put that right. D'you live here?"
"About a mile on. At Gramarye."
The girl stared at him.
"Gramarye?"
"Not at the house," said Anthony. "I live in the cottage at the south-west end of the park."
"Oh, I know. D'you work there, then?"
Anthony nodded.