Margaret did not know this, or the thought of the angular and well-bred Scotchwoman bounding over the glad waters of the dark blue sea would have made her smile.

As it was, she looked serious.
"I am sorry," she thought to herself.

"It was nice of him to say he would not go." Meanwhile the strong-legged nobleman footed it merrily towards Barker's hotel.

It was a good two miles, and the Duke's ruddy face shone again under the August sun.

But the race characteristic was strong in him, and he liked to make himself unnecessarily hot; moreover he was really fond of Barker, and now he was going to pitch into him, as he said to himself, so it was indispensable to keep the steam up.