There was a soft whirr, the click of a brake, two footfalls, and the

Young Lady in Grey stood holding her machine. She had turned round and

come back to him. The warm sunlight now was in her face. "Are you hurt?"

she said. She had a pretty, clear, girlish voice. She was really very

young--quite a girl, in fact. And rode so well! It was a bitter draught.

Mr. Hoopdriver stood up at once. "Not a bit," he said, a little

ruefully. He became painfully aware that large patches of gravel

scarcely improve the appearance of a Norfolk suit. "I'm very sorry

indeed--"

"It's my fault," she said, interrupting and so saving him on the very

verge of calling her 'Miss.' (He knew 'Miss' was wrong, but it was

deep-seated habit with him.) "I tried to pass you on the wrong side."

Her face and eyes seemed all alive. "It's my place to be sorry."

But it was my steering--"

I ought to have seen you were a Novice"--with a touch of superiority.

But you rode so straight coming along there!"

She really was--dashed pretty. Mr. Hoopdriver's feelings passed the

nadir. When he spoke again there was the faintest flavour of the

aristocratic in his voice.

"It's my first ride, as a matter of fact. But that's no excuse for my

The Wheels of Chance