"You'd 'ave given me a lead all round the county if them gates 'ad been open."
"It might have been difficult to stop this fiery animal," Mr Beveridge admitted. "But now, Moggridge, the run is over. I think I can take Lady Alicia's horse back to her myself."
Mr Beveridge put his hand behind his back and silently drove the penknife a quarter of an inch into his mount's hind quarters. In an instant his keeper felt himself being lifted nearly off his feet, and in another actually deposited on his face. Off went the accomplished horseman again at top speed, but this time back to Lady Alicia. He saw her standing by the side of the drive, her handkerchief to her eyes, a penitent and disconsolate little figure. When she heard him coming, she dried her eyes and looked up, but her face was still tearful.
"Well, I am back from my ride," he remarked in a perfectly usual voice, dismounting as he spoke.
"The man!" she cried, "where is that dreadful man?"
Mr Beveridge laughed aloud, at which Lady Alicia took fresh refuge in her handkerchief.
"Did he catch you? Oh, why didn't you escape altogether?" she sobbed.
Mr Beveridge looked at her with growing interest.
"I had begun to forget my petticoat psychology," he reflected (aloud, after his unconventional fashion).
"Oh, here he comes," she shuddered. "All blood! Oh, what have you done to him?"
"On my honour, nothing,--I merely haven't washed his face."
By this time Moggridge was coming close upon them.
"You won't forget a poor soldier?" said Mr Beveridge in a lower voice.
"A _poor_ soldier," he added, with a sigh, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "So poor that even if I had got out, I could only have ridden till I dropped."
"Would you accept----?" she began, timidly.
"Four o'clock, again. Same place as before. When I whistle throw it over at once."
Before they had time to say more, Moggridge, blood- and gravel-stained, came up.
"It's all right, miss," he said, coming between them; "I'll see that he plays no more of 'is tricks. There's nothin' to be afrightened of."
"Stand back!" she cried; "don't come near me!"
Moggridge was too staggered at this outburst to say a word.
"Stand away!" she said, and the bewildered attendant stood away. She turned to Mr Beveridge.