Austen found Victoria, her colour heightened a little, waiting for him by the driveway. The Pomfrets had just driven off, and Mr. Crewe was nowhere to be seen.
"I do not know what you will think of me for taking this for granted, Mr. Vane," she said as he took his seat beside her, "but I couldn't resist the chance of driving behind your horse."
"I realized," he answered smilingly, "that Pepper was the attraction, and
I have more reason than ever to be grateful to him."
She glanced covertly at the Vane profile, at the sure, restraining hands on the reins which governed with so nice a touch the mettle of the horse. His silence gave her time to analyze again her interest in this man, which renewed itself at every meeting. In the garden she had been struck by the superiority of a nature which set at naught what had been, to some smaller spirits, a difficult situation. She recognized this quality as inborn, but, not knowing of Sarah Austen, she wondered where he got it. Now it was the fact that he refrained from comment that pleased her most.
"Did Humphrey actually send for you to take up the injured horse case?" she asked.
Austen flushed.
"I'm afraid he did. You seem to know all about it," he added.
"Know all about it Every one within twenty miles of Leith knows about it.
I'm sure the horse was doctored when he bought him."
"Take care, you may be called as a witness."
"What I want to know is, why you accepted such a silly case," said
Victoria.