Neck by neck, stride by stride, never changing our place——
Kentucky Lil would make quite a Roland,’ he broke off.
‘She’s the nicest horse I ever rode,’ said Marcia.
As they turned in at the villa gates she said contritely, ‘I didn’t know it would take so long; I’m afraid, Mr. Sybert, that I’ve made you very late!’
‘Perhaps I like adventures too,’ he smiled; ‘and you and I, Miss Marcia, have travelled far to-day.’
CHAPTER XIV
As they galloped up the long avenue under the arching trees, the villa presently came into view. The sound of laughing voices floated out from the open windows. Marcia drew rein with a half-involuntary cry of dismay. The Roystons had come.
‘I’d forgotten!’ she explained to her companion. ‘We’re giving a dinner-party to-night.’
At the sound of the clattering hoofs on the gravel of the driveway a gay group poured out on to the loggia, welcoming the dilatory riders with laughter and questions and greetings.
‘My dear child! Where have you been?’