s--as soon as possible."

"Ah, you think you will be tired of my company," said Gwendolen. "I
notice when people are married the husband is not so much with his wife
as when they are engaged. But perhaps I shall like that better, too."

She laughed charmingly.

"You shall have whatever you like," said Grandcourt.

"And nothing that I don't like?--please say that; because I think I
dislike what I don't like more than I like what I like," said
Gwendolen, finding herself in the woman's paradise, where all her
nonsense is adorable.

Grandcourt paused; these were subtilties in which he had much
experience of his own. "I don't know--this is such a brute of a world,
things are always turning up that one doesn't like. I can't always
hinder your being bored. If you like to ride Criterion, I can't hinder
his coming down by some chance or other."

"Ah, my friend Criterion, how is he?"

"He is outside: I made the groom ride him, that you might see him. He
had the side-saddle on for an hour or two yesterday. Come to the window
and look at him."

They could see the two horses being taken slowly round the sweep, and
the beautiful creatures, in their fine grooming, sent a thrill of
exultation through Gwendolen. They were the symbols of command and
luxury, in delightful contrast with the ugliness of poverty and
humiliation at which she had lately been looking close.

"Will you ride Criterion to-morrow?" said Grandcourt. "If you will,
everything shall be arranged."

"I should like it of all things," said Gwendolen. "I want to lose
myself in a gallop again. But now I must go and fetch mamma."

"Take my arm to the door, then," said Grandcourt, and she accepted.
Their faces were very near each other, being almost on a level, and he
was looking at her. She thought his manners as a lover more agreeable
than any she had seen described. She had no alarm lest he meant to kiss
her, and was so much at her ease, that she suddenly paused in the
middle of the room and said half archly, half earnestly--

"Oh, while I think of it--there is something I dislike that you can
save me from. I do _not_ like Mr. Lush's company."

"You shall not have it. I'll get rid of him."

"You are not fond of him yourself?"

"Not in the least. I let him hang on me because he has always been a
poor devil," said Grandcourt, in an _adagio_ of utter indifference.
"They got him to travel with me when I was a lad. He was always that
coarse-haired kind of brut