here would be bitter
disappointment. But seeing how it was, had she any further ground for
hope? She certainly had no ground for anger!

It was thus, within her own bosom, she put questions to herself. And
yet all this before her was simply a game of play in which the girl
and the young man were as eager for victory as though they were
children. They were thinking neither of love nor love-making. That
the girl should be so lovely was no doubt a pleasure to him;--and
perhaps to her also that he should be joyous to look at and sweet of
voice. But he, could he have been made to tell all the truth within
him, would have still owned that it was his purpose to make Mabel his
wife.

When the game was over and the propositions made for further matches
and the like,--Miss Boncassen said that she would betake herself to
her own room. "I never worked so hard in my life before," she said.
"And I feel like a navvie. I could drink beer out of a jug and eat
bread and cheese. I won't play with you any more, Lord Silverbridge,
because I am beginning to think it is unladylike to exert myself."

"Are you not glad you came over?" said Lady Mabel to him as he was
going off the ground almost without seeing her.

"Pretty well," he said.

"Is not that better than stalking?"

"Lawn-tennis?"

"Yes;--lawn-tennis,--with Miss Boncassen."

"She plays uncommonly well."

"And so do you."

"Ah, she has such an eye for distances."

"And you,--what have you an eye for? Will you answer me a question?"

"Well;--yes; I think so."

"Truly."

"Certainly; if I do answer it."

"Do you not think her the most beautiful creature you ever saw in
your life?" He pushed back his cap and looked at her without making
any immediate answer. "I do. Now tell me what you think."

"I think that perhaps she is."

"I knew you would say so. You are so honest that you could not bring
yourself to tell a fib,--even to me about that. Come here and sit
down for a moment." Of course he sat down by her. "You know that
Frank came to see me at Grex?"

"He never mentioned it."

"Dear me;--how odd!"

"It was odd," said he in a voice which showed that he was angry. She
could hardly explain to herself why she told him this at the present
moment. It came partly from jealousy, as though she had said to
herself, "Though he may neglect me, he shall know that there is
someone who does not;"--and partly from an eager half-angry feeling
that she would have nothing conce