“They’re not going down to Lorne yet. They go back to Audley Square till the end of this month. That’s quite long enough for Tony to get into trouble”—ruefully. “Lady Susan says he plays a lot in her nephew’s set—that’s the Brett Forrester Tony sometimes speaks of as such a fine bridge player.”
“I’ve heard of Forrester from other people,” observed Robin. “He’s got the reputation of being one of the most dare-devil gamblers in London—in every shape and form. Cards, horses, roulette—anything you like as long as it’s got the element of chance in it.”
Ann’s brows drew together.
“That may be all right for Mr. Forrester. As Lady Susan says, he can afford to throw money away if he chooses. Tony can’t, you know. Sir Philip’s pretty strict over his allowance.”
“I’m rather anxious to meet your Lady Susan,” said Robin. “It was very decent of her to let you leave her almost at once like that.”
“Lady Susan always would do the decent thing, I think,” returned Ann, smiling. “The other thing doesn’t seem to occur to her. You’ll meet her before long, as she comes straight home from Paris. Isn’t it strange that you should get this berth and that we should come to live quite close to her?”
“Rather a coincidence.” Robin, occupied in restraining a sudden tendency on the part of the pony to frolic a little as they neared home, replied somewhat abstractedly. He was a good whip, and under his quiet handling the cob soon steadied down to a more reasonable gait and finally pulled up decorously at a green-painted gateway. A diminutive and hugely self-important young urchin, whom Ann learned later to know as Billy Brewster, the odd-job boy, appeared simultaneously and flew to the pony’s head, grasping his bridle with as much promptitude as if there were imminent danger of his bolting at sight. Billy’s ultimate ambition in life was to be a groom—he adored horses—and although, at present, the exigencies of fate ordained that boots, coals, and knives should be added to his lot, he proposed to lose no opportunity of acquiring the right touch of smartness requisite for his future profession.
Ann laughed as she passed through the gate which Robin held open for her, while Billy touched his hat rapturously for the third time.
“Who is that fascinating imp?” she asked. “Is he one of our retainers, Robin?”
He nodded, smiling.