She reached Agworth at one o’clock; Richard had been pacing the platform impatiently for twenty minutes.  Porters were eager to do his bidding, and his instructions to them were suavely imperative.

‘They know me,’ he remarked to Alice, with his air of satisfaction.  ‘I suppose you’re half frozen?  I’ve got a foot-warmer in the trap.’

The carriage promised to Adela was a luxury Richard had not ventured to allow himself.  Alice mounted to a seat by his side, and he drove off.

‘Why on earth did you come second-class?’ he asked, after examining her attire with approval.

’Ought it to have been first?  It really seemed such a lot of money, Dick, when I came to look at the fares.’

’Yes, it ought to have been first.  In London things don’t matter, but here I’m known, you see.  Did mother go to the station with you?’

‘No, Mr. Keene did.’

‘Keene, eh?’ He bent his brows a moment.

‘I hope he behaves himself?’

‘I’m sure he’s very gentlemanly.’

’Yes, you ought to have come first-class.  A princess riding second’ll never do.  You look well, old girl?  Glad to come, eh?’

‘Well, guess!  And is this your own horse and trap, Dick?’

‘Of course it is.’

‘Who was that man?  He touched his hat to you.’

Mutimer glanced back carelessly.

’I’m sure I don’t know.  Most people touch their hats to me about here.’

It was an ideal winter day.  A feathering of snow had fallen at dawn, and now the clear, cold sun made it sparkle far and wide.  The horse’s tread rang on the frozen highway.  A breeze from the north-west chased the blood to healthsome leaping, and caught the breath like an unexpected kiss.  The colour was high on Alice’s fair cheeks; she laughed with delight.

’Oh, Dick, what a thing it is to be rich!  And you do look such a gentleman; it’s those gloves, I think.’

‘Now we’re going into the village,’ Mutimer said presently.  ’Don’t look about you too much, and don’t seem to be asking questions.  Everybody ‘ll be at the windows.’

CHAPTER XV

Between the end of the village street and the gates of the Manor, Mutimer gave his sister hasty directions as to her behaviour before the servants.

‘Put on just a bit of the princess,’ he said.  ’Not too much, you know, but just enough to show that it isn’t the first time in your life that you’ve been waited on.  Don’t always give a ‘thank you;’ one every now and then’ll do.  I wouldn’t smile too much or look pleased, whatever you see.  Keep that all till we’re alone together.  We shall have lunch at once; I’ll do most of the talking whilst the servants are about; you just answer quietly.’