s from another," said
Rachel. "Do you really mean that you care?"

"Depend upon it, he does, my dear," said Mr. Clare. "I have heard him
severely critical on his cousins."

"He has been very good in not tormenting me," said Rachel, nestling
nearer to him.

"I apprehended the consequences," said Alick, "and besides, you never
mounted that black lace pall, or curtain, or whatever you call it, upon
your head, after your first attempt at frightening me away with it."

"A cap set against, instead of at," said Mr. Clare, laughing; and
therewith his old horse was heard clattering in the yard, and Alick
proceeded to drive the well-used phaeton about three miles through
Earlsworthy Park, to a pleasant-looking demesne in the village beyond.
As they were turning in at the gate, up came Lady Keith with her two
brisk little Shetlands. She was one mass of pretty, fresh, fluttering
blue and white muslin, ribbon, and lace, and looked particularly well
and brilliant.

"Well met," she said, "I called at the Rectory to take up Rachel, but
you were flown before me."

"Yes, we went through the Park."

"I wish the Duke would come home. I can't go that way now till I have
called. I have no end of things to say to you," she added, and her
little lively ponies shot ahead of the old rectorial steed. However, she
waited at the entrance. "Who do you think is come? Colin Keith made
his appearance this morning. He has safely captured his Ouralian bear,
though not without plenty of trouble, and he could not get him on
to Avonmouth till he had been to some chemical institution about an
invention. Colin thought him safe there, and rushed down by the train to
see us. They go on to-morrow."

"What did he think of Lord Keith?" said Alick, in the more haste because
he feared something being said to remind Rachel that this was the assize
week at Avoncester.

"He has settled the matter about advice," said Bessie, seriously; "you
cannot think what a relief it is. I mean, as soon as I get home, to
write and ask Mr. Harvey to come and talk to me to-morrow, and see if
the journey to Edinburgh is practicable. I almost thought of sending an
apology, and driving over to consult him this afternoon, but I did
not like to disappoint Mrs. Huntsford, and I thought Rachel would feel
herself lost."

"Thank you," said Rachel, "but could we not go away early, and go round
by Mr. Harvey's?"

"Unluckily I have sent the ponies home, and told the close carriage t