At the sound of Celia's voice, the young man had turned his head and

uttered an exclamation, and now that Celia saw his face, she, too,

uttered a cry of astonishment; for she recognized Mr. Reginald Rex, the

young man of the British Museum.

She sprang up and went to him with a hand extended; he grasped it, and

they stared at each other for a moment in astonished silence; then Celia

burst into laughter.

"Why, how ridiculous!" she said. "To think of meeting you here, and in

this way!"

"It's--incredible!" he retorted. "What are you doing here?"

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"I may ask you the same question," said Celia.

"I'll tell you directly," he replied, "as soon as I've persuaded this

pony that we've finished the trick act."

"Celia!" called Lady Gridborough from the bank. "Come here at once. What

does this mean? Do you know that young man? You greet each other as if

you were life-long friends!"

"Well, we're not quite that," said Celia, laughing. "We've met at the

British Museum. He is a novelist."

For an instant Lady Gridborough looked slightly disappointed; but it was

for an instant only.

"Well, he's a plucky young man all the same, my dear," she said. "He

really did show great presence of mind, and has been awfully nice

throughout the whole business. Fancy your meeting here in this way! What

is his name?"

As Celia told her, Reggie, having secured the harness sufficiently,

brought the now placid and subdued Turk to his mistress.

"Oh, is it all right?" said her ladyship. "Well, Mr. Rex, I'm very much

obliged to you. And so you know this young lady, my friend, Miss Grant!

Dear me, how extraordinary. My dear, is my hat straight?"

It was resting on one ear; and Celia, laughingly, but gently, put it

straight.

"I was going into the village," said Lady Gridborough; "but I suppose

I'd better go home."

"Yes, yes; of course you had!" said Celia. "You must be very much

shaken, if you are not actually hurt."

"Very well, then," said her ladyship. "Get in, my dear. And you, too,

Mr. Rex, if you've not already had enough of me, and Turk."

"I'll come, and drive," said Rex, with marked promptitude.

"Yes, do; though a child might drive him with a match and a piece of

cotton now. This is a very interesting meeting for you two. May one

inquire what you are doing in this locality, young man?"




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