"The horses are all right, sir," said the driver. "I've managed to take
up the broken trace; it was that that startled them, sir, and they'll
be quiet enough now."
"Oh, but where are you going?" said Sir Stephen, with hospitable
eagerness. "Were you not coming to us, to the Villa?"
"No; we were going to Keswick," said Mr. Falconer. "My daughter had a
fancy for seeing the lake district, and we are making a kind of tour."
"You have no other engagement? I am delighted to hear it," said Sir
Stephen. "Oh, I'll take no denial! What! Do you think I shall part with
an old friend so quickly--and after such a--er--sudden and unexpected
meeting! Miss Falconer, let me beg you to plead with your father for
me!"
Mr. Falconer regarded Sir Stephen for a moment curiously, then looked
towards his daughter. Her fine eyes rested on Stafford's face, and he
could do not less than repeat his father's invitation.
"I hope you'll consent, Miss Falconer," he said. "You have no doubt
been a little upset by the accident, and it is rather late to go on.
Pray stay with us!"
"Thanks. I shall be delighted." she said, with her indolent, regal air.
By this time, as they went towards the gate, some of the men who had
been walking in the garden came up, and Howard's voice called out: "Hallo, Stafford! Anything the matter?" "No; nothing whatever," said
Stafford, promptly; and Sir Stephen seized the opportunity to steer the
Falconers through the group. "Some old friends of mine, Mr. Howard;
their carriage broke down--fortunately at our very door--this way,
Falconer. Stafford, will you give Miss Maude your arm?"
"Strange, our meeting again so soon, and under such circumstances," she
said. "You must have stopped those horses very pluckily. I thought that
kind of thing was out of date now, and that gentlemen only called the
police on such occasions. You are sure you are not hurt? I thought from
your father's face you must be. He must be very fond of you to look so
scared. He was as white as a ghost."
"He is fond of me, I hope and think," said Stafford. "Candidly, I did
not think he would be so alarmed--but I don't know him very well
yet--we have been living apart until just recently."
"Why, that is my case," she said. "My father and I were strangers until
the other day, when he came from abroad--What a beautiful house! It is
like a miniature palace."