The nose was short and
straight, but had a trick of tilting itself upward with a little
impatient jerk that made it seem _retrousse;_ the chin was round and
full and dimpled; the throat was full and round also, a white column
supporting the tawny head, and indicated that Vixen was meant to be a
powerful woman, and not one of those ethereal nymphs who lend
themselves most readily to the decorative art of a court milliner.

"I'm afraid Violet will be a dreadfully large creature," Mrs. Tempest
murmured plaintively, as the girl grew and flourished; that lady
herself being ethereal, and considering her own appearance a strictly
correct standard of beauty. How could it be otherwise, when she had
been known before her marriage as "the pretty Miss Calthorpe?"

"This is very nice, you know, Vixen," said Roderick critically, as
Titmouse made a greedy snap at an apple, and was repulsed with a gentle
pat on his nose, "but it can't go on for ever. What'll you do when you
are grown up?"

"Have a horse instead of a pony," answered Vixen unhesitatingly.

"And will that be all the difference?"

"I don't see what other difference there can be. I shall always love
papa, I shall always love hunting, I shall always love mamma--as much
as she'll let me. I shall always have a corner in my heart for deal old
Crokey; and, perhaps," looking at him mischievously, "even an odd
corner for you. What difference can a few more birthdays make in me? I
shall be too big for Titmouse, that's the only misfortune; but I shall
always keep him for my pet, and I'll have a basket-carriage and drive
him when I go to see my poor people. Sitting behind a pony is an awful
bore when one's natural place is on his back, but I'd sooner endure it
than let Titmouse fancy himself superannuated."

"But when you're grown up you'll have to come out, Vixen. You'll be
obliged to go to London for a season, and be presented, and go to no
end of balls, and ride in the Row, and make a grand marriage, and have
a page all to yourself in the _Court Journal_."

"Catch me--going to London!" exclaimed Vixen, ignoring the latter part
of the sentence. "Papa hates London, and so do I. And as to riding in
Rotten Row, _je voudrais bien me voir faisant cela_," added Vixen,
whose study of the French language chiefly resulted in the endeavour to
translate English slang into that tongue. "No, when I grow up I shall
take papa the tour of Europe. We'll see all those places I'm worried
abou