Mrs.Sarratt turned round and descended.
Meanwhile the man holding the ladder saw an officer in khaki standing on the top of the coach, and heard him address a word of laughing encouragement to the lady.

And no sooner had her feet touched the ground than he was at her side in a trice.
'Thank you, Sir!' he said, saluting.

'My wife was very nearly thrown off.

That horse has been giving trouble all the way.' 'Must be content with what you can get, in war-time!' said the other smiling, as he raised his hat to the young woman he had befriended, whom he now saw plainly.

'And there are so few visitors at present in these parts that what horses there are don't get enough to do.' The face turned upon him was so exquisite in line and colour that Sir William, suddenly struck, instead of retreating to his car, lingered while the soldier husband--a lieutenant, to judge from the stripes on his cuff,--collected a rather large amount of luggage from the top of the coach.
'You must have had a lovely drive along Windermere,' said Sir William politely.