the presence of his sister. He could say nothing
as to the Runnymede hunt and the two thunderbolts which had fallen
on him, as Major Tifto was not a subject on which he could expatiate
in the presence of his father. He asked a few questions about the
shooting, and referred with great regret to his absence from the
Brake country.

"I am sure Mr. Cassewary could spare you for another fortnight,"
the Duke said to his neighbour, alluding to a visit which she now
intended to make.

"If so he would have to spare me altogether," said Mabel, "for I must
meet my father in London in the middle of January."

"Could you not put it off to another year?"

"You would think I had taken root and was growing at Matching."

"Of all our products you would be the most delightful, and the most
charming,--and we would hope the most permanent," said the courteous
Duke.

"After being here so long I need hardly say that I like Matching
better than any place in the world. I suppose it is the contrast to
Grex."

"Grex was a palace," said the Duke, "before a wall of this house had
been built."

"Grex is very old, and very wild,--and very uncomfortable. But I love
it dearly. Matching is the very reverse of Grex."

"Not I hope in your affections."

"I did not mean that. I think one likes a contrast. But I must go,
say on the first of January, to pick up Miss Cassewary."

It was certain, therefore, that she was going on the first of
January. How would it be if he put off the telling of his story for
yet another week, till she should be gone? Then he looked around and
bethought himself that the time would hang very heavy with him. And
his father would daily expect from him a declaration exactly opposed
to that which he had to make. He had no horses to ride. As he went
on listening he almost convinced himself that the proper thing to do
would be to go back to London and thence write to his father. He made
no confession to his father on that night.

On the next morning there was a heavy fall of snow, but nevertheless
everybody managed to go to church. The Duke, as he looked at Lady
Mabel tripping along over the swept paths in her furs and short
petticoats and well-made boots, thought that his son was a lucky
fellow to have the chance of winning the love of such a girl. No
remembrance of Miss Boncassen came across his mind as he saw them
close together. It was so important that Silverbridge should marry
and thus be kept from further folli