of interrogation. Then on the heels of this procession came a dogcart

driven by a man in a billycock hat and containing a lady in dark green.

Looks like some sort of excursion," said Hoopdriver.

Jessie did not answer. She was still peering under her hand. "Surely,"

she said.

The clergyman's efforts were becoming convulsive. With a curious jerking

motion, the tricycle he rode twisted round upon itself, and he partly

dismounted and partly fell off. He turned his machine up hill again

immediately and began to wheel it. Then the burly gentleman dismounted,

and with a courtly attentiveness assisted the lady in grey to alight.

There was some little difference of opinion as to assistance, she

so clearly wished to help push. Finally she gave in, and the burly

gentleman began impelling the machine up hill by his own unaided

strength. His face made a dot of brilliant colour among the greys and

greens at the foot of the hill. The tandem bicycle was now, it seems,

repaired, and this joined the tail of the procession, its riders walking

behind the dogcart, from which the lady in green and the driver had now

descended.

Mr. Hoopdriver," said Jessie. "Those people--I'm almost sure--"

Lord!" said Mr. Hoopdriver, reading the rest in her face, and he turned

to pick up his machine at once. Then he dropped it and assisted her to

235

The Wheels of Chance