“I’ll go down to the river and angle for a roach,” said Colonel Barrington.
“Or else come with me to town and dine at the Carlton. I’ll take you all in the Rolls-Royce. It will be a lovely run back.”
“But, my dear, it’ll be joy-riding!” cried Mrs. Barrington.
“It will be indeed,” said Lady Edna.
“But suppose we’re held up?”
“I’ll say I have to see my husband on important political business.”
“And I’m a soldier on active service,” said Colonel Barrington, “and must be fed.”
“You don’t mind, do you?” asked Lady Edna.
Mind? Not they. What could be pleasanter on a perfect summer night? Besides, they had not tasted the guilty sweets of joy-riding for many months. It would be an adventure.
They started merrily about six o’clock. Lady Edna was in gay spirits, as though enjoying a schoolgirl’s freak. Through the perfumed leafiness of Streatley, Basildon, Pangbourne, they flew at the high speed of the great car, through Reading and Maidenhead and Slough, through Hounslow and Brentford. What was fifty miles? As they approached London Lady Edna said: