There, are
you tucked in all right? Can we start?"
"Yes, by all means."
He cracked his whip, and immediately the impatient chestnut sprang forward
into the darkness. They swayed dangerously through the compound gates on
to the broad, straight highroad.
Beatrice laughed with excitement.
"That was splendid!" she exclaimed, pulling her cloak closer round her.
"How well you drive!"
"You seem to enjoy danger," he said, with an amused smile.
"Yes, I enjoy it," she answered, more gravely. "It is the only flavoring
which I have hitherto discovered in life. The rest is rather insipid,
don't you think?"
"You talk like a man," he said.
"I have been brought up to be independent and fight for myself," she
returned. "That sort of thing does away with the principal differences
between the sexes."
As she spoke they dashed suddenly into an avenue of high trees through
whose branches the moonlight played fantastic, uncanny shadows on the
white road. Travers' horse shied violently, and for some minutes his work
was cut out for him in pacifying the excited animal. When they were once
more bowling smoothly over the open plain, he glanced down at the girl
beside him.
She was smiling to herself.
"You have nerve!" he remarked admiringly.
"I have lots more when it is wanted," she answered, looking up at him. The
light struck full on their faces, and they could read each other's
expressions as clearly as if it had been midday.
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