'Yes; and, when I last saw her and dear little Netty, their victoria was wedged between a drag and a tax-cart. I do hope they escaped without harm.'
'I hope so, too, for she is a very charming woman. And you found Cadbury duly waiting at Salthill with his horses?'
'Yes; and Gaskins came here to get mine.'
'I hope you duly thanked Cadbury.'
'Of course, papa.'
'But why did he not make an effort to escort you home?' asked Sir Ranald, whom this point interested.
'I missed him in the running, as I said, papa,' replied Alison, colouring now. 'He is so slow at his fences.'
'Slow; he has the reputation of generally riding faster than his horse,' said Sir Ranald, who was unable to repress a joke at the parvenu peer, whom he was not without quiet hopes of having for a son-in-law. 'Then, I suppose, Captain Goring was your escort for most of the day?'
'Yes,' replied Alison, frankly.
'In fact, I may presume that you and he were always neck-and-neck; taking your fences together, and all that sort of thing?'