The groom, a red-cheeked youth, paid no attention.

“If this here Ambler of Mr. George’s wins on Wednesday,” he said, “it’s as good as five pounds in my pocket.  Who does for Mr. George?”

“James, of course.”

The groom whistled.

“I’ll try an’ get his loadin’ to-morrow.  Are you on, Tom?”

The footman answered: 

“Here’s another over the page.  Green room, right wing—­that Foxleigh; he’s no good.  ‘Take all you can and give nothing’ sort!  But can’t he shoot just!  That’s why they ask him!”

From behind a screen of dark trees the train ran in.

Down the platform came the first passengers—­two cattlemen with long sticks, slouching by in their frieze coats, diffusing an odour of beast and black tobacco; then a couple, and single figures, keeping as far apart as possible, the guests of Mr. Horace Pendyce.  Slowly they came out one by one into the loom of the carriages, and stood with their eyes fixed carefully before them, as though afraid they might recognise each other.  A tall man in a fur coat, whose tall wife carried a small bag of silver and shagreen, spoke to the coachman: 

“How are you, Benson?  Mr. George says Captain Pendyce told him he wouldn’t be down till the 9.30.  I suppose we’d better——­”

Like a breeze tuning through the frigid silence of a fog, a high, clear voice was heard: 

“Oh, thanks; I’ll go up in the brougham.”

Followed by the first footman carrying her wraps, and muffled in a white veil, through which the Hon. Geoffrey Winlow’s leisurely gaze caught the gleam of eyes, a lady stepped forward, and with a backward glance vanished into the brougham.  Her head appeared again behind the swathe of gauze.

“There’s plenty of room, George.”

George Pendyce walked quickly forward, and disappeared beside her.  There was a crunch of wheels; the brougham rolled away.

The Hon. Geoffrey Winlow raised his face again.

“Who was that, Benson?”

The coachman leaned over confidentially, holding his podgy white-gloved hand outspread on a level with the Hon. Geoffrey’s hat.

“Mrs. Jaspar Bellew, sir.  Captain Bellew’s lady, of the Firs.”

“But I thought they weren’t—–­”

“No, sir; they’re not, sir.”

“Ah!”

A calm rarefied voice was heard from the door of the omnibus: 

“Now, Geoff!”

The Hon. Geoffrey Winlow followed his wife, Mr. Foxleigh, and General Pendyce into the omnibus, and again Mrs. Winlow’s voice was heard: 

“Oh, do you mind my maid?  Get in, Tookson!”