Red
Rover must have been surprised by the unusual celerity with which he
was saddled and bridled. If there could be such a thing as a horse
looking shocked, that beast certainly betrayed himself as he was
yanked away from his full manger and hustled out to the mounting
block.
"Which way did Miss Blithers go?" demanded Mr. Blithers, in the
saddle. Two grooms were clumsily trying to insert his toes into the
stirrups, at the same time pulling down his trousers legs, which had
a tendency to hitch up in what seemed to them a most exasperating
disregard for form. To their certain knowledge, Mr. Blithers had
never started out before without boot and spur; therefore, the
suddenness of his present sortie sank into their intellects with
overwhelming impressiveness.
"Down the Cutler road, sir, three quarters of an hour ago. She
refused to have a groom go along, sir."
"Get ap!" said Mr. Blithers, and almost ran down a groom in his rush
for the gate. For the information of the curious, it may be added
that he did not overtake his daughter until she had been at home for
half an hour, but he was gracious enough to admit to himself that he
had been a fool to pursue a stern chase rather than to intercept her
on the back road home, which _any_ fool might have known she would
take.
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