"Good for you. I would take her out myself but somehow I never made a fist at driving."
"That is strange. I thought all young men in your station of life liked to drive."
"Well--er--the trouble is, I was scared by a horse when I was a little boy. I've never liked horseflesh since."
"I see. Well, I have never yet seen the team I was afraid of," answered Robert, telling the exact truth.
"Is that so? Well, your time may come."
There was a significance in Frederic Vernon's words which was lost upon our hero.
"Where are you going to drive?" went on the spendthrift.
"Along the river road first, and then along the cliffs."
And with these words Robert passed on. He was afraid that if he stopped to talk longer Frederic Vernon might invite himself to go along, and he was quite certain the ride would do Mrs. Vernon no good were such the case.
Watching his opportunity, Vernon followed our hero and saw Robert hire a team of white and gray horses, and have them hooked up to a light road carriage.