ied, and
out of his element, poor man!--dragged in the Squire to help us. The
Squire had arrived with his mother an hour before, and had sat under a
cedar, drinking tea with a selection of old ladies and gentlemen,
looking as though he liked it quite well. Whenever he met my eye, he
glowered, as if to say, "How dare you look at me!" and I smiled back, as
that seemed to annoy him most. Now, as the Vicar brought him up, I
could hear his muttered protests: "Rather not! Can't _you_--isn't there
something else?" Pleasing thing, I must say, to have a man forced to
help you against his will!

Well, it was no use making a fuss before a score of curious eyes, so for
the next half-hour we stood side by side, selling tickets, explaining
the rules of the Hunt, marshalling the seekers in readiness for the
signal to start. He is capable enough, I will say that for him, and has
a patent knack of silencing garrulous questioners. It was the funniest
thing in the world to stand at the end of the lawn, and watch these
rustic backs--young, old, and fat middle-aged--all poised on one leg,
swaying to and fro, straining to be off! Excruciatingly funny to watch
the stampede, after the loud "One--two--three--and away!" The plunges,
the waddles, the skelter of flying heels! One might have thought the
gold of Klondyke was hidden in the kitchen garden. I laughed, and
laughed, in a good old Irish paroxysm of merriment, until the tears
rolled down my cheeks. Mr Maplestone stared, turned on his heel, and
stalked away.

I strolled back to the upper lawn, and the first person I saw was old
General Underwood sitting in his bath-chair, which had been drawn under
the shade of a tree, so that he might see everything, and yet be well
out of the way. He was too much out of the way, poor old dear! to judge
by his looks, and agreeably pleased to see my approach.

"Well, young lady, and how are you to-day? You look very fresh and
charming!"

"That's very nice of you, General! I do like to be admired. Isn't this
rather a dull corner for you? Wouldn't you like to be moved?"

He looked around with his old, blue eyes.

"Everyone seems to have gone. There was quite a crowd here a few
minutes ago. I sent my man to the village to post some letters."

"We can manage without him. There is a Treasure Hunt going on at the
other end of the garden. That is why this part is so empty. Mrs
Merrivale has hidden a lot of parcels among the trees and