A tyre bursting delayed the motor, and the horses could cross a short way through the park, so that as they drove up the avenue they saw Stafford appearing with Gheena's grey jogging amicably beside him.
"Hello, there! Hello, you! I say, Freyne!" he called out, amazed to see the motor swerve.
"Dearest, the sunk fence!" shrilled Gheena.
For the car was suddenly left to itself as Dearest George cleared something from his face, and again, with light-hearted gaiety, the Sunbeam immediately dived off the gravel at the sunk fence.
"Hello, I say!" Gheena leaped from the car wildly.
"A bee," said Freyne, beating at the air hard, "a bee! Bees, my God!"
He switched the power off and leaped for the shelter of the laurels.
"He's mad," said Gheena. "But it is bees! All the bees!" Her dive into the undergrowth was even swifter than her stepfather's. She was followed by Darby going with long bounds off his crutch, and then by the chauffeur. A swarm of furious insects buzzed outside.
"Bees!" George Freyne wiped his forehead. "The bees have risen. I am badly stung on my nose."
"They've swarmed on the doorstep," suggested Gheena. "Look! they are in a cloud. I thought you were crazy at first, Dearest, but you're right. And the car has not gone over."