Page:The time spirit; a romantic tale (IA timespiritromant00snaiiala).pdf/100

 She had embarked on a very rash adventure. And if she didn't make a sorry exhibition of herself in the eyes of All London, including those two, she would have cause to thank her private stars, who, to give them their due, had certainly looked after her very well so far.

"It's very sporting of her," said Expert Knowledge to Jack Dinneford.

"I hope the gee won't play the fool," said Jack Dinneford to Expert Knowledge.

V

Hardly had they entered the Row, when Providence, of malice prepense, as it seemed, threw them right across the path of the enemy. Cousin Marjorie and Cousin Blanche, walking their horses slowly along by the rails, were within a very few yards. Moreover, they were coming towards them. Mary, aided by the sixth sense given to woman, was aware of a subtle intensity of gaze upon her, even before she could trace the source of its origin. She could feel it upon her—upon her and everything that was hers, from the crown of her rather too modish hat to the tip of her tall friend's fetlock.

"Good morning, Jack," said a clear, strong voice.

"Hello," the tone of Jack was amazingly casual—"here you are again."

There was a moment's maneuvering, in the course of which three pairs of feminine eyes met in challenge, and then Cousin Blanche and Cousin Marjorie, smart groom and all, passed on without offering a chance of coming to closer quarters. Their tactics had been calculated so nicely that it was impossible to say whether