Clearly, however, Mrs Hensor was not the object of his wrath.

Lady Bridget saw little Tommy run excitedly up to deliver her message, and almost cried out to him to keep away from the horses' heels, to which he went perilously near.

As things happened, the beast lashed out at him, and Tommy had a very narrow escape of being badly kicked.

Lady Bridget heard Mrs Hensor shriek and saw her husband drag the child to the veranda and examine him anxiously, Mrs Hensor bending with him.

Then McKeith lifted up Tommy and kissed and patted him almost as if he had been the boy's father.