To be sure we had outriders, but it was nearly as much as your life was worth, and coming out at the Gap afterwards we had a horse's hind legs in our carriage, and every one screaming like mad, and the dust fit to choke you.

Even motors couldn't rival that." She spoke with an air of grave exhilaration.

They knew everybody and everything that was fine and gay in the social life of their day.
Perhaps they would know about my fine gentleman.

I only hesitated to ask because in her latter years Miss Bride had adopted a manner of hostility towards the male sex generally, and was apt to snap at any one who showed an interest in it even of the slightest.

However, I screwed up my courage.
"Miss Chenevix," I began, "I met a gentleman the other day in our wood and I wondered who he might be.