“Are you following on foot?  I wish I was.  Never thought of it till this moment.”

“I would much rather follow on horseback,” Dot declared, looking as if she did not believe him.

He laughed.  “I’ll take you in front of me if you’ll come.”

“No.  I shouldn’t like that,” said Dot very decidedly.

“How can you possibly know till you try?”

Dot looked up at him with the sunshine in her clear eyes.  “How do you know that you would prefer to follow the hounds on foot?  I don’t suppose you ever have.”

“How do I know?” laughed Bertie.  “Because I should be in your company, of course.  Isn’t that reason enough?”

“Idiot!” said Dot tersely.

“Minx!” said Bertie.

She flushed, looked angry for a moment, and then in spite of herself dimpled into a smile.  “Bertie, you’re a beast!  Say that again if you dare!”

“I daren’t,” said Bertie.

“No, I thought not.  Now apologise!”

“Oh, not now!  Not in public!” he pleaded.  “I’ll drop in this evening and you can shrive me before I go to bed.”

“I shan’t be at home,” said Dot, with her head in the air.

“Oh, yes, you will.  Anyway, I’m bound to catch you if I wait long enough.”  Bertie spoke with cheery assurance.  “Hullo!  What do you want?”

His expression altered as his glance fell upon his brother, who had just come to his side.  He looked inclined to scowl.

But Nap was not apparently desiring an introduction to the rector’s daughter.  “Hold the mare a minute, will you?” he said.

Bertie complied and he swung himself to the ground.

Lady Carfax was coming towards them and he went to meet her.

Her grey eyes smiled a friendly welcome.  “I was just wondering if you were here.”

He bowed low.  “I am honoured indeed to be in your thoughts for a single instant.”

“I hope I do not forget my friends so easily,” she said.  “Oh, here are some more of them!  Excuse me for a moment.”

She went straight to Dot, shook hands with her and her brother, and stood chatting for a few seconds.

Nap remained close behind her, and after a little she turned to Include him in the group.  “Have you ever met this Mr. Errol.  Dot?  Mr. Errol—­Miss Waring!”

Dot bowed again with a scarlet countenance, but the next instant a friendly inspiration delivered her from the moment’s awkwardness.

“And you don’t know Bertie Errol, do you, Lady Carfax?” she said eagerly.  “Let me introduce him.  He studies with Dad, you know.”

“When he isn’t hunting, or paper-chasing, or—­baking cakes,” said Bertie.  “He’s such a nice boy, Lady Carfax.  He can do almost anything.  I’m sure you’ll like him!”

Dot laughed and protested.  “He isn’t a bit nice, and he isn’t clever either, though he thinks he is.  I don’t believe he learns anything with Dad.  They study natural history most of the time.”