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?"
"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?"