at least she could show to all the world how false and base they were. [13] Monica woke up at last to the fact that it was getting late, and that she was in a totally strange place, far away from the rest of the party. She turned quickly and retraced her steps. She seldom lost her bearings, and was able to find her way back without difficulty, but [14]she had strayed farther than she knew; it took her some time to reach the glade in which they had lunched, and when she arrived there she found it quite deserted. There was nothing for it but to go back to the hotel, whither she supposed the others had preceded her, but when she reached the courtyard no one was to be seen but Conrad, who held her horse and his own. [14] “Ah, Monica! here you are. We missed you just at starting. Did you lose yourself in the park? Nobody seemed to know what had become of you.” “I suppose I walked rather too far. Where are the rest?” “Just started five minutes ago. We only missed you then. I said I’d wait. We shall catch them up in two minutes.” As this was Mrs. Bellamy’s party, and [15]Conrad was her brother, this mark of courtesy could not be called excessive, yet somehow it displeased Monica a good deal. [15] “Where is my groom?” Conrad looked round innocently enough. “I suppose he joined the cavalcade, stupid fellow! Stablemen are so very gregarious. Never mind; we shall be up with them directly.” And Monica was forced to mount and ride after the party with Conrad. But they did not come up with the others, despite his assurances, and the fact that they rode very fast for a considerable time. He professed himself very much astonished, and declared that they must have made a stupid blunder, and have gone by some other road. “In that case, Sir Conrad,” said Monica, [16]“I will dispense with your escort. I am perfectly well able to take care of myself alone.” [16] He read her displeasure in her face and voice. She had an instinct that she had been tricked, but it was not a suspicion she could put into words.
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