leasure."

"Pain! nothing of the kind. I have a capital lady's horse, steady as a
rock, splendid pacer, temper of an angel. He is quite at your service.
Let me telegraph for him, and begin your lessons the day after
to-morrow." De Burgh raised himself from his lounging position, and
leaned forward to urge his pleading more earnestly. "Let me persuade
you. You will thank me hereafter."

"Thank you," said Katherine, shaking her head. "It is too late. I shall
never learn how to ride, but I should like to know how to drive."

"There I can be of use to you too. You will want an instructor. Pray
take me!"

The last words, spoken a little louder than the rest, caught Mrs.
Ormonde's ear as she was crossing the room, and she paused beside her
sister-in-law to ask, "Take him for what?--for better or worse,
Katherine?"

"Blundering little idiot!" thought De Burgh; while Katherine answered,
with remarkable composure.

"Nothing so formidable; only to be my instructor in the art of driving."

"Well, and do you accept?"

"Yes; I shall be very pleased to learn. I should like to be able to
'conduct' a pair of ponies, as the French would say."

"Ah yes! and cut a dash in the Park," said Mrs. Ormonde, taking the seat
De Burgh reluctantly vacated for her. "I don't see why she should not,
Mr. De Burgh; do you?"

"Certainly not, provided only Miss Liddell can handle the ribbons."

"Very well, Katherine: you devote yourself to acquire the art here, and
then join us in a house in town this spring. I was reading the
advertisements in the _Times_ to-day. I always look at the houses to
let, and there is one to let in Chester Square which would suit us
exactly; that is, if you will join. She ought to have a season in town,
ought she not, Mr. De Burgh?"

He looked keenly at Katherine, and smiled. "Yes, Miss Liddell ought to
taste the incomparable delights of the season by all means. Life is
incomplete without it."

"I should like to experience it certainly, for once, but I shall be more
in the mood for such excitements next year--_perhaps_," returned
Katherine, gravely.

"Oh, my dear Katie, never put things off! At all events, be presented.
That would be a sort of beginning; and I am to be presented too, so we
might go together."

"I do not intend to be presented," said Katherine; "it would be needless
trouble. I have not the least ambition to go to court."

"But, Katherine, it is absolutely necessary to take your proper positi