"We have been very uneasy about you. I have just sent orders to the stable for horses to start to meet you. Has anything happened?"
"The pole required just three times as long to repair as Mr. Smithy said it would," answered Victor, "and we, very foolishly depending upon his word in the matter, were much disappointed in not reaching the house three-quarters of an hour ago. I am sorry to have caused you any uneasiness."
"It is dissipated now," said Mr. Rutledge, courteously. "I only regret that your arrival should have been marked by such a misadventure."
"What would he say if he knew of misadventure number two?" said Victor, sotto voce, as he assisted me to alight. "I feel positively superstitious. No good is coming of this visit, depend upon it!"
As we were half-way up the steps, I found I had forgotten my parasol, and Victor went back to look for it. Mr. Rutledge, seizing the opportunity of his absence, said to me quickly:
"I see you drove those horses; you must promise me you will never do it again."
"Why not?" I asked, haughtily.
"No matter why; you must promise me you will never touch the reins again behind them."
"I am sure I drove them up in style; Michael himself could not have done it better. I don't think I can bind myself never to do it again. You'll have to excuse me from promising."
"I remember; you have a prejudice against promising."