Mrs Krige entered the room, and her son rose and kissed her uneffusively but with affection. She stood at the window and watched with him the slow advance of the riders.
“It’s so hot,” she said. “They should have got back half an hour ago. Honor ought to think of these things.”
“Why does Honor ride with a stranger?” he asked. “I consider it unnecessary. He can ride on the farm with me.”
Mrs Krige raised surprised eyes to his.
“I see no reason for objecting,” she returned. “I think we may trust Honor.”
He lifted his loose shoulders heavily.
“It is always wise to go slow,” he said.
Then he caught up his hat and stepped out on to the stoep and went to meet the horses.
Honor slipped from the saddle, and relinquished the reins to him, making some remark about the warmth of the day to which he made no response. He shifted the rein to his left hand, and raised the right, which he proffered the guest.
“You had better dismount,” he said. “I will take the horses to the stable.”