"A bad thing to bring out to a picnic, Lady Mitford. I should advise you to discard it as speedily as possible."
"I fully intend to do so, and hope every one else will follow your advice. By the way, I may say, 'Physician, heal thyself;' for you've been most sedate ever since we started."
"I was wondering," laughed Laurence, "among other things, what the groom seated behind us could think of us. He's young, I see, and may possibly therefore imagine that silence is a sign of good breeding."
"In that case, in his opinion we must be perfect aristocrats, for we've not exchanged a word. Ah, here comes the cavalcade; how well Mrs. Hammond looks!--doesn't she? and how perfectly she sits her horse!"
"Yes, she rides admirably, and--ah, I thought so; she has just discovered we were looking at her, or she would not have done that."
"That" was to put her horse at a bit of bank and hedge bordering the grass-meadow, on which she and her party were cantering. She cleared it admirably, and drew rein close by the phaeton. As her horse jumped, Mrs. Hammond caught Laurence's eye, and her own lighted up with a saucy triumph; the exercise had done her good, and she was in great spirits.
"Well, dear Lady Mitford, I hope you've enjoyed your drive; no accident this time, I see. But Colonel Alsager is a good whip.--I've heard your praises sung often by men who really understand the subject, Colonel Alsager. They say you have the very hand for a restive animal--light, but firm."
"They get away from me sometimes, though, Mrs. Hammond," said Laurence, looking up.
"Ah, that happens with every one," she replied; "but you always conquer at last, don't you?"
"Always; and when I get them in hand again, I make them remember their freaks, and pay for them."