"Don't be silly," said Rita, her cheeks glowing.
"Is it silly? Not a bit of it—you know it's not. Picton's fond of you, and you're fond of him—that ends the matter. I wonder he hasn't asked you before."
"Asked what?"
"To be his wife."
Rita laughed as she said: "I think you spoilt an opportunity when you called to us in the garden that night. You remember?"
"Yes, I remember, and I also recollect I thought what a fool I was at the time," he said.
Picton was glad when Dick Langford arrived at Haverton; it gave Ben a chance to go back to the Sea-mew for a few days.
Dick always enjoyed a visit here, and small wonder, for such a lovely place could not fail to attract. He was fond of horses and Brant Blackett liked him.
"I hate showing a fellow round who pretends he knows a heap and knows nothing," said the trainer. "With Mr. Langford it's different; he's a very fair judge, and he's willing to learn; he's never cocksure about anything. He makes some shrewd remarks too, and he's clever—yes, I like Mr. Langford; there's grit in him."
Mrs. Yeoman gave Dick the hall-mark of her approval.