"Not in the least. Most invigorating, I consider it." Marguerite
arranged the reins carefully, and inclined the whip at a suitable angle
across her companion's vision.
"I'm learning to drive, you know," she said, leaning confidently down
from her high seat. "And papa thinks that because this young gentleman
is rather stout he is quiet, which is quite a mistake. Whoa! Steady!
Keep off the grass! Visitors are requested to keep to--Well, I'm"--she
hauled the pony off the common, whither he had betaken himself, on to
the road again--"blowed," she added, religiously completing her
unfinished sentence.
They were now between high fences, and compelled to progress more
steadily.
"I am very glad you have come, you know," Marguerite took the
opportunity of assuring the visitor. "It is jolly slow, I can tell you,
at times; and then you will do papa good. He is very difficult to
manage. It took me a week to get this pony out of him. His great idea
is for somebody to marry me. He looks upon me as a sort of fund that
has to be placed or sunk or something, somewhere. There was a young
Scotchman here the week before last. I have forgotten his name already.
John--something--Fairly. Yes, that is it--John Fairly, of
Auchen-something. It is better to be John Fairly, of Auchen-something,
than a belted earl, it appears."
"Did John tell you so himself?" inquired Tony.
"Yes; and he ought to know, oughtn't he? But that was what put me on
my guard.
Pages:
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131