TheMarquisofWhisinfordandhisfriendLordAlfredMiddletonmeetatWhite’sClubandtelleachotherhowboredtheyarewiththeLondonSeasonandthesamepartieswiththesamepeoplenightafternight.Theycommiseratewitheachotherforfindinglifesorepetitivewherenothingneweverhappens.Listeningtothem,theoldDukeofDunsteadtellsthemthathehasasolutiontotheirproblemandsohebetsoneofhiswellbredhorsesagainstoneoftheirsthat,iftheygooutdisguisedasordinarymen,theywillundoubtedlyfindanadventureofsomekindontheopenroad.BecauseitisabetandbettingatWhite’sistraditional,theMarquisagreestorideNorthasfarasNorthumberlanddisguisedasanordinaryman,whileLordAlfredistogoSouthtoLand’sEnd.TheMarquissetsoffalone,hisonlypossessionsbeingwhathecancarryonhishorse,Samson,usingthenameofNeilBarlow.Buthehasnotgoneveryfarwhenaveryprettygirljoinshimontheroadinastateofagitationandaskshimifhewillbekindenoughtoallowhertoridebesidehim.Sheexplainsthatsheisrunningawayfromherstepfatherwhoisforcingherintomarriagewithamansheloathesanddetests.ShetellstheMarquisthathernameisVelina,butdoesnotsayanymoreandhetellsheronlyhisChristiannameandtheyrideonuntiltheyreachwhatappearstobeaquietinn.Afterdinner,whentheMarquisgoesouttoseeiftheirhorsesarehappy,heoverhearsthreementalkingandlearnsthattheyhavebeensentbyVelina’sstepfathertokidnapherandtakeherforciblybacktoherhome.TheMarquisalertsVelinaandtheyslipawayatfouro’clockinthemorningbeforeanyoneelseisawakeanditisthenthattheMarquissuggeststhattheyshouldstayoffthemainroadandtravelNorthbythetwistinglanesofEngland.Howtheyencounterevenmoredramasthantheyhavealready.Howtheyrescueasmallboyandhisdogfromacrueldrunkard.HoweventuallyVelinasavestheMarquis’shorseandhimfromahighwaymanandhowtheyfindevenmoreonaroadtoromance,isalltoldinthisexcitingstorybyBARBARACARTLAND.