manhood to the strong, firm mouth. A manly face altogether,
Roderick's, and handsome withal. Vixen's short life had shown her none
handsomer.

He was tall and strongly built, with a frame that had been developed by
many an athletic exercise--from throwing the hammer to pugilism. Vixen
thought him the image of Richard Coeur de Lion. She had been reading
"The Talisman" lately, and the Plantagenet was her ideal of manly
excellence.

"Many happy returns of the day, Rorie," she said softly. "To think that
you are of age to-day. Your own master."

"Yes, my infancy ceased and determined at the last stroke of midnight
yesterday. I wonder whether my anxious mother will recognise that fact?"

"Of course you know what is going to happen at Briarwood. There is to
be a grand dinner-party."

"And you are coming? How jolly!"

"Oh, no, Rorie. I am not out yet, you know. I shan't be for two years.
Papa means to give me a season in town. He calls it having me broken to
harness. He'll take a furnished house, and we shall have the horses up,
and I shall ride in the Row, You'll be with us part of the time, won't
you, Rorie?"

"_Ca se peut_. If papa will invite me."

"Oh, he will, if I wish it. It's to be my first season, you know, and
I'm to have everything my own way."

"Will that be a novelty?" demanded Roderick, with intention.

"I don't know. I haven't had my own way in anything lately."

"How is that?"

"You have been away."

At this naive flattery, Roderick almost blushed.

"How you've grown. Vixen," he remarked presently.

"Have I really? Yes, I suppose I do grow. My frocks are always getting
too short."

"Like the sleeves of my dress-coats a year or two ago."

"But now you are of age, and can't grow any more. What are you going to
be, Rorie? What are you going to do with your liberty? Are you going
into Parliament?"

Mr. Vawdrey indulged in a suppressed yawn.

"My mother would like it," he said, "but upon my word I don't care
about it. I don't take enough interest in my fellow-creatures."

"If they were foxes, you'd be anxious to legislate for them," suggested
Vixen.

"I would certainly try to protect them from indiscriminate slaughter.
And in fact, when one considers the looseness of existing game-laws, I
think every country gentleman ought to be in Parliament."

"And there is the Forest for you to take care of."

"Yes, forestry is a subject on which I should like to have my say. I
suppose I shall be