“He will know nothing of the matter, in any case. He has rid over to Longhampton. The word is, en avant!”
The greys, which were soon brought round to the house by a reluctant groom, had not been out for several days, and were consequently very fresh. Captain Audley looked them over, and said: “We had better take Johnson along with us. Miss Taverner, do you feel yourself to be equal to the task of driving them, or shall we send them away, and have out the gig?”
“A gig! By no means! I have driven this team before, and know them to be beautifully mouthed. I will engage to drive you without mishap. We will take no groom.”
“So be it!” said the Captain recklessly. “I have one sound arm, after all.”
It was not needed, however. Miss Taverner’s skill soon showed itself, and the Captain, who, never having driven with her before, had been at first holding himself in readiness to seize the reins, presently relaxed, and paid Miss Taverner the compliment of saying that she was as good a whip as Letty Lade. He directed the way, and since he gave the road to Longhampton a wide berth, it was a piece of the most perverse ill-luck that upon the way back to Worth they should come plump upon the Earl.
His lordship had stopped by the roadside to exchange a few words with one of his tenant-farmers, and was bestriding a raking bay mare. Judith was the first to catch sight of him, at a distance of a hundred yards, or more, and she gave a dismayed gasp, and exclaimed: “What is to be done? There is your brother!”
Captain Audley regarded her quizzically. “Oh, oh! I believe you would like to turn around and make off in the other direction!”
“Nonsense!” said Miss Taverner, sitting very erect. “Yours is the blame, after all.”
“But I have only one arm. I depend on your protection.”
“How can you be so absurd? Ten to one he will think nothing of it.”