and Ida was deeply interested in the progress of the work. Then, again,
the hunting season commenced, and to the delight of Sir Robert Vayne,
the master, she appeared at the first meet: and, is it necessary to
say? was in at the death. She enjoyed that first run more than she had
enjoyed anything since the fatal morning she had lost both sweetheart
and father; and she was very nearly happy as she rode home with a
crushed hat and a habit splashed with mud.

A week or two afterwards, Lord Bannerdale gave a hunt breakfast, and
made a point of her being present; and she yielded though she would
have preferred to have joined the meet at the coverts. As she rode up,
Lord Bannerdale came down the steps to meet her; and by his side was a
tall, good-looking young fellow whom Ida rightly guessed, by his
likeness to his father, to be Lord Bannerdale's son. He had returned
from his travels on the preceding night, was in perfect health and
spirits, much tanned by the sun and rain, and seemed to possess his
full share of the amiability of his amiable family. He stood,
bare-headed, at Rupert's head and took Ida's hand to help her to
dismount, and not only walked with her to the house, but contrived to
sit beside her at the breakfast-table. His people had been talking to
him of Ida, he was quite prepared to be impressed, and that he was so
was evident before the meal had concluded. His mother paid particular
attention to Ida, and Lord Bannerdale regarded the young pair
approvingly.

Lord Edwin rode as straight as Ida herself; it was a magnificent
run--of course, "the best run of the season"--and Lord Edwin, securing
the brush, fastened it to her saddle. Those who saw the act--they were
not many, for the pace had been fast and hard--exchanged significant
glances. Lord Edwin was over at the Hall next day and displayed a keen
interest in the restoration, and bent for some time over the plans
which he had humbly begged Ida to show him. He was a modest young
fellow, with more intelligence and good sense than generally goes with
his age, and Ida liked him. It was inevitable that they should meet
almost every day; it was almost as inevitable that he should fall in
love with her; for she was not only the most beautiful girl in the
county, but there was an element of romance in her loneliness and her
fortunes which naturally appealed to him.

He went to his father one day and confided in him; but, though Lord and
Lady Bannerdale were more t