“A very new one,” confessed Ann. “I believe I arrived the same day that you did. I’m Ann Lovell.”
Apparently the name Lovell conveyed nothing to Mrs. Hilyard. Probably she possessed no equivalent of Maria, who was almost as full of current news as the local daily paper.
“Well, I’m very grateful to you for coming to my help. My chauffeur gets back this evening, and I’ll send him down for the car. It will be all right here till then.”
She bowed very graciously, and was turning away when Ann impulsively detained her.
“Don’t walk back,” she said. “Let me drive you home in my cart. Our cottage is close by, and if you’d let us give you some tea first—”
“Now, that’s what I call being really neighbourly!” declared Mrs. Hilyard. “I’d love the cup of tea. But I can’t put you to the trouble of driving me back afterwards. There must be a limit to Good Samaritanism, you know!”
“It won’t be the least trouble,” Ann assured her. “Rather the reverse, in fact. My cob wasn’t out yesterday, and it’ll do him good to go out to-day. So, you see, you’re providing an excellent reason for exercising him”—laughingly.
Mrs. Hilyard threw her a mischievous smile.
“Pure casuistry!” she affirmed. “But it’s convinced me. I’ll love to have tea with you, and afterwards you shall drive me home, and by the time I’ve given you as much trouble as possible, I hope we shall be really friends!”
It was only a matter of five minutes’ walk from where they were standing to the Cottage, and Mrs. Hilyard exclaimed with delight at its pretty, old-fashioned aspect.