She had struck into a great belt of plantations bounding one side of the ducal estate.
Through it ran a famous green ride, crossed near its beginning by a main road.

On her right, beyond the thick screen of trees, was the railway, and she could hear the occasional rush of a train.
When she reached the cross road, which led from a station, a labourer opened the plantation gates for her.

As he unlatched the second, she perceived a man's figure in front of her.
"Roger!" A touch of the whip--her horse sprang forward.

The man in front looked back startled; but she was already beside him.
"You keep up the old habit, like me?
What a lovely day!" Roger Barnes, after a flush of amazement and surprise, greeted her coldly: "It is a long way for you to come," he said formally.

"Twelve miles, isn't it?
You're not going to hunt ?" "Oh, no! I only came to look at the hounds and the horses--to remind myself of all the good old times.