st a
word or two with you, De Vaux!" he said, drawing him on one side.

Paul drew himself up in his saddle, and sat there glum and unbending.
"I am at your service," he answered. "I have had the pleasure already
of a short conversation with your sister this morning."

Captain Westover nodded. "I suppose so. I want to beg your pardon
first for what I am going to say, De Vaux. If I make an ass of myself,
don't scruple to say so! But I want to ask you this! Why, in thunder,
did you let Adrea what's-her-name, the dancing girl, come down here?"

"It was no business of mine! I did not know that she was coming!"

Captain Westover stroked his moustache and looked puzzled. "Look here,
old man," he said slowly, "you go to see her in London, don't you?"

"I have been!"

"Just so! And you were down at the cottage last night, weren't you?"

"I was!"

"Well! hang it all, then you must have known something about her
coming, you know! It can't be just a coincidence. Bevan & Bevan are
my solicitors, and by the purest accident, one day I learned that Miss
Adrea enjoys a settlement of a thousand a year from you. They didn't
tell me, of course. I happened to catch sight of your check on the
table one day, and overheard old Sam Bevan give some instructions to
a clerk. Sorry, but I couldn't help it! You're the first person I've
breathed it to."

"I am her guardian!" Paul exclaimed angrily.

Captain Westover whistled. "You may call it what you like, old fellow!
I don't mind, I can assure you! You don't seem inclined to listen to
any advice, so I won't offer any more. But if you'll forgive my saying
so, you're doing a d----d silly thing. Good-morning."

On the whole, Paul did not enjoy his day's hunting; and before it was
all over, he found himself once more in an embarrassing situation. For
as he rode past the gates of the cottage, on his way home, Adrea was
there, breathless and laughing, with her dusky hair waving loosely
around her shapely head.

"I saw you coming," she said, a little shyly, "and I was afraid that
you would not stop, so I ran out as fast as I could. It was silly of
me! You were coming in, weren't you?"

"I think not!" Paul answered gravely. "Look how thick in mud I am, and
how tired my horse looks!"

She looked up at him with pleading eyes and parted lips. "Do come!"
she said. "I have been expecting you all day!"

She held the gate open, and stood looking up at him, a curiously
picturesque-looking figure