hat?" Dacre asked.

"I do not quite understand," said she.

"Sir Aymer de Lacy saved the Countess, and I saved the hat," he
explained.

"And what did Lord Darby save?" the Lady Mary asked pertly.

Dacre smiled placidly.

"Nothing--not even his temper; the Countess saved that for him," he
answered; and every one laughed--even the Duchess; though she shook her
head at him, the while, in mock reproof.

"That forfeits your share of the reward," she said; then turned to De
Lacy. "Some time, Sir Aymer, I must have a gallop beside the wonderful
Selim."

De Lacy bowed low. "Why not on him?" he asked.

"Well, perhaps--when we all are together again."

"In London--or at Windsor?"

A faint shade of concern came into her eyes, and De Lacy's thoughts
instantly recurred to the scene in the Duke's chamber the day he
arrived.

"At Windsor, let us hope; the roads are charming there," she said, and