“And although they make something of a day like this, how on earth they contrive to exist all the other days of the year, when people are sober, and minding their own business,” added Darnley.
“To me the pleasantest thing about the drive is our finding ourselves in the open country. Look out of the window there—trees and farm-steads—it is so rural, and such an odd change!” said Lady May.
“And the young corn, I'm glad to see, is looking very well,” said Lord Wynderbroke, who claimed to be something of an agriculturist.
“And the oddest thing about it is our being surrounded, in the midst of all this rural simplicity, with the population of London,” threw in Vivian Darnley.
“Remember, Miss Arden, our wager,” said Lord Wynderbroke; “you have backed May Queen.”
“May! she should be a cousin of mine,” said good Lady May, firing off her little pun, which was received very kindly by her audience.
“Ha, ha! I did not think of that; she should certainly be the most popular name on the card,” said Lord Wynderbroke. “I hope I have not made a great mistake, Miss Arden, in betting against so—so auspicious a name.”
“I sha'n't let you off, though. I'm told I'm very likely to win—isn't it so?” she asked Vivian.
“Yes, the odds are in favour of May Queen now; you might make a capital hedge.”
“You don't know what a hedge is, I daresay, Miss Arden; ladies don't always quite understand our turf language,” said Lord Wynderbroke, with a consideration which he hoped that very forward young man, on whom he fancied Miss Arden looked good-naturedly, felt as he ought. “It is called a hedge, by betting men, when——” and he expounded the meaning of the term.