he road where
it was narrow; and in making way--_click_! the box of one wheel caught
against a granite buttress pushed forth from the bank, the wheel
wriggled about, and fifty Yards farther came off and went trundling down
the hill--the coachman fortunately pulling his horses up short, so that
the waggonette sidled over against the ferny bank, and no one was hurt.

"Such abominable driving," exclaimed Sir Hampton.

"Very sorry, sir," said the coachman.

"Oh, pa, it was those other people's fault. I saw it all," said Fin.

The coachman gave her a grateful look, and the footman helped all to
alight.

Five minutes' inspection showed that the wheel was so much injured that
it would take time to repair, and there was nothing for it but to send
to the little town to get assistance.

"Shall I send Edward with one horse, Sir Hampton, and ride the other
home and fetch the barouche."

"Yes--no--yes," said Sir Hampton, waking to the fact that they were yet
eight miles from home, and he had done quite as much walking as he cared
for in one day.

At this moment the sound of wheels was heard, and the waggonette they
had before passed came up, evidently from the station, with two
gentlemen inside, the coachman pulling up on seeing that there was an
accident, while the gentlemen leaped out.

"I trust," said the elder, raising his hat, "that no one is hurt."

"Er-rum! none; no one," said Sir Hampton, stiffly.

"What misfortune!" said the younger, fixing his glass in his eye, and
looking in a puzzled way at the ladies. "Under circumstances,
Vanleigh?"

"Yes, of course," said the other, and then raising his hat to the
ladies, "as my friend here observes. You will allow me to place the
carriage at your disposal?"

Sir Hampton looked at the speaker, then at the carriage, then at his
own. That was Trevor's carriage, but these were strangers, and he was
not obliged to know. His legs ached; it was a long while to wait; and
he was still pondering when the first speaker said--

"Allow me," and offered his arm to Tiny, who glanced at her father, and
seeing no commands against the act, suffered herself to be led to the
whole waggonette, the other stranger offering his arm to Fin, who just
touched it, and then leapt in beside her sister.

"Will you follow, Mr--Mr--?"

"Er-rum! Sir Hampton Rea, at your service, gentlemen," said the knight,
stiffly.

"I beg pardon, Sir Hampton--strangers, you see. My friend here is Sir
F