She looked at him almost with reproach. "I suppose it is falling so, so suddenly," she began.
"Ted," interrupted Lord Blackborough, "I believe I'd better take your wife back in the motor. Sorry I can't take you, but it is only the little De Dion. If you run for it you'll just get it. We shall be home before you will, with that wait at the junction."
"You don't mind, do you, darling?" asked Ted, solicitously.
Five minutes afterwards he waved his handkerchief from the train at them as they made their way leisurely across the water-meadow.
"You will be home in half an hour, and have a good rest," said Ned consolingly, as those beautiful eyes with the eternal hope in them looked into his with that vague dread growing to them.
"Yes," she said cheerfully, "it was only the start."
But ten minutes later in the car, she laid her hand suddenly on Ned's as it held the steering gear.
"Oh, Ned!" she said, "I'm--I'm so afraid!" Her voice was an appeal, and he bent hastily to kiss the hand which clung to his, as it would have clung to any human being.
"Cheer up!" he said huskily, "Nothing's going to go wrong! I'll have you home in no time; so let me steer straight, will you?"
The little car swept along at top speed. She sat still, her face drawn and pale, her hands holding hard to the white folds of her dress.