Filey and Hermione were still at the gate. The girl had caught sight of Farnborough being driven by the park road to the station.
'Oh, I do believe it's the new mare they're trying in the dogcart,' said Hermione. 'Let's wait and see her go by.'
Borrodaile and his companion kept at Lady John's side.
'I'm glad,' said Vida, 'that I shall at last make acquaintance with your Jean.'
'Yes; it's odd your never having met, especially as she knows your cousins at Bishopsmead so well.'
'I've been so little in England——'
'Yes, I know. A great business it is,' Lady John explained to Lord Borrodaile, 'each time to get that crusty old Covenanter, Jean's grandfather, to allow her to stay at Bishopsmead. So it's the sadder for them to have her visit cut short.'
'Why is it cut short?' he asked.
'Because the hostess took to her bed yesterday with a chill, and her temperature was a hundred and one this afternoon.'
'Really?' said Miss Levering. 'I hadn't heard——'