But Hester had an idea that he did not enjoy his rides.  He used to return from them with a resentful, sombre look, as if his reflections had not been pleasant company for him.  In truth they were not pleasant company.  He was beset by thoughts he did not exactly care to be beset by—­thoughts which led him farther than he really cared to go, which did not incline him to the close companionship of Lady Walderhurst.  It was these thoughts which led him on his long rides; it was one of them which impelled him, one morning, as he was passing a heap of broken stone, piled for the mending of the ways by the roadside, to touch Faustine with heel and whip.  The astonished young animal sprang aside curvetting.  She did not understand, and to horse-nature the uncomprehended is alarming.  She was more bewildered and also more fretted when, in passing the next stone heap, she felt the same stinging touches.  What did it mean?  Was she to avoid this thing, to leap at sight of it, to do what?  She tossed her delicate head and snorted in her trouble.  The country road was at some distance from Palstrey, and was little frequented.  No one was in sight.  Osborn glanced about him to make sure of this fact.  A long stretch of road lay before him, with stone heaps piled at regular intervals.  He had taken a big whiskey and soda at the last wayside inn he had passed, and drink did not make him drunk so much as mad.  He pushed the mare ahead, feeling in just the humour to try experiments with her.

* * * * *

“Alec is very determined that you shall be safe on Faustine,” Hester said to Emily.  “He takes her out every day.”

“It is very good of him,” answered Emily.

Hester thought she looked a trifle nervous, and wondered why.  She did not say anything about the riding lessons, and in fact had seemed of late less eager and interested.  In the first place, it had been Alec who had postponed, now it was she.  First one trifling thing and then another seemed to interpose.

“The mare is as safe as a feather-bed,” Osborn said to her one afternoon when they were taking tea on the lawn at Palstrey.  “You had better begin now if you wish to accomplish anything before Lord Walderhurst comes back.  What do you hear from him as to his return?”

Emily had heard that he was likely to be detained longer than he had expected.  It seemed always to be the case that people were detained by such business.  He was annoyed, but it could not be helped.  There was a rather tired look in her eyes and she was paler than usual.

“I am going up to town to-morrow,” she said.  “The riding lessons might begin after I come back.”

“Are you anxious about anything?” Hester asked her as she was preparing for the drive back to The Kennel Farm.

“No, no,” Emily answered.  “Only—­”

“Only what?”

“I should be so glad if—­if he were not away.”

Hester gazed reflectively at her suddenly quivering face.