"

"Famously."

"Bless me, everything's beer and skittles with you just at present
then!"

Richard looked away down the smooth yellow road whereon the dappled
shadows kissed and mingled, mingled and kissed, and his heart cried
"Helen, Helen," once again.

"Oh! I don't know about that," he said. "I get my share as well as the
rest I suppose--at least--anyway the horses are doing capitally this
season."

"I should like to have a look at them."

"Oh, well you've only got to say when, you know. I shall be only too
delighted to show them you."

As he walked the trap through the gateway, Dr. Knott watched Richard
riding alongside.--"What's up with the boy," he thought. "His face is
as keen as a knife, and as soft as--God help us, I hope there's no
sweethearting on hand! It's bound to come sooner or later, but the
later the better, for it'll be a risky enough set out, come when it
may.--Ah, look out there now, you old fool,"--this to Timothy,--"don't
go missing the step and laying yourself up with broken ribs for another
three months, just when my work's at its heaviest. Be careful, can't
you?"

"But why not come in to luncheon now?" Richard said, wisdom whipping up
good resolutions once more, and bidding him check the gladness that
gained on him at thought of that approaching meeting. Oh yes! he would
be discreet, he would erect barriers, he would flee temptation. Knott's
presence offered a finely rugged barrier, surely. Therefore, he
repeated, "Come in now. My mother will be delighted to see you, and we
can have a look round the stables afterwards."

"I'll come fast enough if Lady Calmady will take me as I am. Workaday
clothes, and second best lot at that. You're alone, I suppose?"

He watched the young man as he spoke. Noted the lift of his chin, and
the slightly studied indifference of his manner.

"No, for once we're not. But that doesn't matter. My Uncle William
Ormiston is with us. You remember him?"

"I remember his wife."

"Oh! she's not here," Dickie said. "Only he and his daughter, Madame de
Vallorbes. You'll come?"

"Oh! dear yes, I'll come, if you'll be good enough to prepare your
ladies for a rough-looking customer. Don't let me keep you. Wonder what
the daughter's like?" he added to himself. "The mother was a bit of a
baggage."

CHAPTER VII

WHEREIN THE READER IS COURTEOUSLY INVITED TO IMPROVE HIS ACQUAINTANCE
WITH CERTAIN PERSONS OF QUALITY

But Richard might have spared himself