He greeted those who stood about, when he had shaken hands with Kinnaird.
"Sorry I'm a little behind," he apologized.

"Had to post over.

I told Walters at the George to keep me the black mare.

Instead, he let that waterworks chief navvy fellow have her.

The horse he gave me would hardly face Scarside Rise." One or two of the guests smiled, for the navvy in question was a rather famous engineer who had had a difference of opinion with Weston over certain gravel he desired to quarry on the Scarthwaite estate.
Then Mrs.Kinnaird stepped forward, and they went in to dinner.
It was not yet dark outside, but the table was lighted; and Ida, who sat not far from Weston, watched him closely.