And at luncheon my seat was next to Miss Thorn’s, while the Celebrity was placed at the right of Miss Trevor.  I observed that his face went blank from time to time at some quip of hers:  even a dull woman may be sharp under such circumstances, and Miss Trevor had wits to spare.  And I marked that she never allowed her talk with him to drift into deep water; when there was danger of this she would draw the entire table into their conversation by some adroit remark, or create a laugh at his expense.  As for me, I held a discreet if uncomfortable silence, save for the few words which passed between Miss Thorn and me.  Once or twice I caught her covert glance on me.  But I felt, and strongly, that there could be no friendship between us now, and I did not care to dissimulate merely for the sake of appearances.  Besides, I was not a little put out over the senseless piece of gossip which had gone abroad concerning me.

It had been arranged as part of the day’s programme that Mr. Cooke was to drive those who wished to go over the Rise in his new brake.  But the table was not graced by our host’s presence, Mrs. Cooke apologizing for him, explaining that he had disappeared quite mysteriously.  It turned out that he and the judge had been served with luncheon in the Ethiopian card-room, and neither threats nor fair words could draw him away.  The judge had not held such cards for years, and it was in vain that I talked to him of consequences.  The Ten decided to remain and watch a game which was pronounced little short of phenomenal, and my client gave orders for the smaller brake and requested the Celebrity to drive.  And this he was nothing loth to do.  For the edification as well as the assurance of the party Mr. Allen explained, while we were waiting under the porte cochere, how he had driven the Windsor coach down Piccadilly at the height of the season, with a certain member of Parliament and noted whip on the box seat.

And, to do him justice, he could drive.  He won the instant respect of Mr. Cooke’s coachman by his manner of taking up the lines, and clinched it when he dropped a careless remark concerning the off wheeler.  And after the critical inspection of the horses which is proper he climbed up on the box.  There was much hesitation among the ladies as to who should take the seat of honor:  Mrs. Cooke declining, it was pressed upon Miss Thorn.  But she, somewhat to my surprise, declined also, and it was finally filled by a young woman from Asquith.

As we drove off I found myself alone with Mrs. Cooke’s niece on the seat behind.

The day was cool and snappy for August, and the Rise all green with a lavish nature.  Now we, plunged into a deep shade with the boughs lacing each other overhead, and crossed dainty, rustic bridges over the cold trout-streams, the boards giving back the clatter of our horses’ feet:  or anon we shot into a clearing, with a colored glimpse of the lake and its curving shore far below us.  I had always