‘What on earth have you been doing?  She’s run away with you!’

‘No, no!’ cried Alma, laughing, as she looked at Mrs. Abbott, who had just come up.  ’She was rather fresh, and I gave her a good run, that’s all.  I’m sorry I missed you at the place ——­’

‘Why didn’t Williams drive?’ asked Harvey in a voice turning to anger.

‘Williams?  Why should Williams drive?’ Alma returned, her eyes flashing.  ’I’m only a few minutes late; I don’t see anything to make a fuss about!’

This temper was as strange in Alma as the personal appearance she presented.  Harvey said no more, but, after quickly examining the horse, helped Mrs. Abbott to a seat at the back of the vehicle; he then jumped up to his wife’s side, and without a word took the reins from her hand.  Alma made no remark as she surrendered them.

‘Put your hat straight,’ he said to her in a low voice.

’My hat?  What’s the matter with it The wind, I suppose.  Did you enjoy it, Mrs. Abbott?’

She turned, in speaking, so as to have her back towards Harvey, and kept this position all the way, talking with her guest as if nothing had happened.  Rolfe, his face grimly set, uttered only a word or two.  He had to drive very slowly and with all caution, for the animal shied every other minute, and he felt heartily glad when they all alighted.  Williams, who ran out from the stable, stood in astonishment at sight of the horse’s condition.

‘Rather fresh this morning,’ said Harvey, as the ladies went in.  ’Mrs Rolfe had a little trouble with her.’

This mild explanation by no means satisfied the coachman, though he pretended to acquiesce.  Seeing him give a look at the horse’s knees, Harvey did the same; nothing was wrong there.  Williams pointed to marks on one of the wheels; the cart had evidently grazed against a wall.  Alma must have lost control of the horse, and have been carried a considerable distance before, somehow, it was stopped.  Without doubt, she had had a very narrow escape.  Her anger seemed to be the result of nerves upset and mortified vanity; she wished to show Mrs. Abbott that she could drive —­ the explanation of the whole matter.  Harvey was vexed at such a piece of childishness; irritated, too, by the outbreak of temper with which Alma had replied to his very natural alarm.  Of course, he would say nothing more; it would be interesting to await the outcome of his wife’s mature reflection on her folly.

As he stepped into the house, something like a cry for help sounded from above stairs.  He shouted, ‘What’s that?’ and in the same moment Mary Abbott called to him that Mrs. Rolfe had fainted.  On rushing up, he found Mary with difficulty supporting Alma’s unconscious form.

‘I saw she could hardly get upstairs,’ said Mrs. Abbott.  ’Just here on the landing she gave a moan and fell back.  I was luckily close by her.’

They carried her into her room, and gave what help they could whilst the doctor was being summoned.  In a few minutes Alma regained consciousness, and declared herself quite well again; but when she tried to rise, strength failed her; she began to moan in physical distress.  Harvey went downstairs, whilst Mrs. Abbott and Ruth tended the sufferer.