itable creature
in her hand, and by overhaste, or clumsiness of statement should lose
it! Madame de Vallorbes was wild with irritation, racked her brain for
means to recover her--as she feared--forfeited position. It would be
maddening did her mighty hunting prove but a barren pastime in the end.
And thereupon the little scar on her temple, deftly concealed under the
soft, bright hair, began to smart and throb. Ah! well, the hunting
should not prove quite barren anyhow, of that she was determined, for,
failing her late gay purpose, that small matter of long-deferred
revenge still remained in reserve. If she could not gratify one
passion, she would gratify quite another. For in this fair lady's mind
it was--perhaps unfortunately--but one step from the Eden bowers of
love to the waste places of vindictive hate.--"Yet I would rather be
good to him, far rather," she said to herself, with a movement of quite
pathetic sincerity.

But here, just at the entrance to the village street, an altogether
unconscious _deus ex machina_--destined at once to relieve Helen of
further anxiety, and commit poor Dickie to a course of action affecting
the whole of his subsequent career--presented itself in the shape of a
white-tented miller's waggon, which, with somnolent jingle of harness
bells and most admired deliberation, moved down the centre of the road.
A yellow-washed garden-wall on one side, the brook on the other, there
was not room for the phaeton to pass.

"Whistle," Richard commanded over his shoulder. And the wooden image
thereby galvanised into immediate activity whistled shrilly, but
without result as far as the waggon was concerned.

"The fellow's asleep. Go and tell him to pull out of the way."

Then, while the groom ran neatly forward in twinkling, white breeches
and flesh-coloured tops, Richard, bending towards her, as far as that
controling strap about his waist permitted, shifted the reins into his
right hand and laid his left upon Madame de Vallorbes' sable muff.

"Look here, Helen," he said, rather hoarsely, "I am indescribably
shocked at what you have just told me. I supposed it was all so
different with you. I'd no suspicion of this. And--and--if I may say
so, you've taught me a lesson which has gone home--steady
there--steady, good lass"--for the horses danced and snorted--"I don't
think I shall ever grumble much in future about troubles of my own,
having seen how splendidly you bear yours. Only I can't agree wi