"I say," he said, "I hope you don't mind my coming with you. I ran over this morning to see what you were going to do, and Blanche said I might come." And he looked doubtfully at Marjory.
"What Blanche says, I say," she replied heartily.
"Right you are, then." And Alan looked relieved.
Blanche soon came out, a trim little figure in her neat riding-habit. She called out "good-morning," and waved her hand to Mrs. Forester, who had come to see the start; but Marjory saw at once that there was something wrong--she even fancied that there were traces of recent tears on her friend's cheeks. Blanche in tears was a sight which put Marjory up in arms at once, and she was prepared to do instant battle with their cause, be it any person or any thing.
They started off in silence, after having agreed upon the direction of their ride, Marjory waiting for the explanation which she hoped would soon come, and furtively watching her friend. She was glad to see that the pale cheeks were gradually gaining colour from the exercise in the keen frosty air.
"I say, isn't it perfectly horrid? Aunt Katharine and my cousin Maud are coming to stay. They've invited themselves because Uncle Hilary is away. They'll be here for Christmas; nothing will be a bit nice, and it'll spoil all our fun. They're coming the day after to-morrow. Mother says she is very sorry for me, but I mustn't be selfish. I don't like Maud much; she is older than we are, and she's a stuck-up thing," vehemently.
Here indeed was a blow. The three had planned many a happy day together, and this addition to the party seemed likely to be a disturbing one.
"But will she want to come with us if she's as old as that?" suggested Alan.
"Oh yes, that's just what she likes--to come and lord it over other people, and have everything her way. Just because she's been on the Continent and been to theatres she thinks she knows everything. Aunt Katharine gives her anything she wants, and Maud makes other people do it too."
"How _devilish_!" said Alan emphatically.
"O Alan, don't swear," said Blanche, aghast.
"I thought that anything about the devil was swearing."
"Oh no, I don't think so," put in Marjory. "Peter often talks about the 'deil,' and he's not a bad man."