ssed a tail, how closely it would have been tucked between his
legs! He hardly dared look the animals who had those appendages in the
face; how they must have despised him! Gould, who was a bad shot, had
bagged five couple, and patronised him insufferably. When they got home
he found a warm foot-bath ready in his room, which was a most refreshing
luxury, and having made himself presentable he went down to the drawing-
room, where the neighbours who were going to act in the forthcoming play
were assembled at afternoon tea, preparatory to the rehearsal. And
presently they adjourned to the library and went through the play, a
certain Mr Foljambe, to whom everybody paid implicit obedience,
directing and instructing them.

Crawley knew his part, and paid attention to what he was told, and the
great man considered that he would do, if he could only get over a
certain shy awkwardness. And indeed it was a provoking thing to
Clarissa Gould, that when they went through their scenes alone together
he acted in a manner that really showed great promise, but if a third
person were present he was not so good, and with every additional
spectator the merit of his performance diminished. There was only one
scene in which he managed completely to forget himself and become the
person he represented, and that was where he crosses swords with the
hero, and is disarmed. He could fence a little, and did not quite like
playing at getting the worst of it when it was not certain that he ought
to have done so; but still, the violent action, and the clash of steel
helped him to get rid of that feeling that he was making a tom-fool of
himself, which confused him when he had to make a lot of spoony speeches
to the girl.

Mr Foljambe encouraged him with the assurance that being dressed for
the part would give him confidence; in a strange dress, a false
moustache, and a painted face, he would not know himself in the glass,
and would feel that the spectators did not entirely recognise him
either. It was necessary to make the best of him, for there was no
other Ensign Bellefleur available.

The men of the day before had taken their departure, and were succeeded
by a more lively lot, for there was to be a partridge drive and a big
lunch on the morrow, and most of those who were to take part in it slept
at Nugget Towers that night. So, instead of shares and companies, Mr
Gould the father held forth upon agricultural prospects, the amount of
gam