of different sizes and
makes, dog-carts, pony carriages, governess carts--on they came, one
after another, stirring up the dust of the road till the air seemed full
of a powdery mist, through which unhappy pedestrians ploughed along in
the shadow of the hedgerows, their skirts held high in white-gloved
hands.

Darsie thought it inhuman of her aunt not to fill the carriage to
overflowing with these unfortunates, but she made no attempt to do so,
but sat up stiff and straight in her seat, a typical old lady of the
olden times, in her large bonnet, grey satin gown, and richly
embroidered China crape shawl.

"If you're not proud of yourself, I'm proud of you!" the girl declared,
smoothing the satin folds with an approving hand. "You look just what
you are, a dear old fairy godmother who pretends to be proud and fierce,
and is really a lump of kindness and generosity. All the other old
ladies look dowds beside you."

"Don't flatter me, my dear. I dislike it extremely," returned Lady
Hayes with such an obvious look of satisfaction the while that Darsie
laughed in her face, and laughed unreproved.

Arrived at the Hall, the guests were escorted through the perilously
slippery hall, on which the mats seemed to turn into fresh pitfalls and
slide beneath the feet; then through a side-door on to a miniature lawn,
in the centre of which stood Mrs Percival, sweetly smiling, and
ejaculating endlessly: "Delighted to see you! _So_ nice of you to
come!" before passing the visitors on to her husband and children who
were ranged at discreet intervals along the sweep of the lawn. The
girls whispered dramatically to Darsie that for the time being they were
tied, literally tied by the heels, so she sat demurely by her aunt's
side under the shade of a great beech-tree, listened to the band, spilt
drops of hot tea down the front of her white dress, buttered the thumbs
of her white kid gloves, and discovered the unwelcome but no doubt
wholesome fact that there were other girls present who appeared just as
attractive, or even more so than herself! Then the band began to play
item number four on the programme, and Noreen Percival came forward with
a sigh of relief.

"At last I am free! They've all come, or practically all, and we can't
wait for the laggards. The Hunt begins at three o'clock. Mother
thought we'd better have it early, as it would shake them up and make
them more lively and sociable. You'll have to search by yourself,