eaving the room. It was said in a whisper, with a
little laugh, with that air of half joke half earnest which may be so
efficacious in conversation: "I did not go to Goodwood, after all."

She raised her eyes to his for a quarter of a second, thanking him
for his goodness in refraining. "I don't believe that he is really a
black sheep at all," she said to herself that night, as she laid her
head upon her pillow.

After all, the devil fights under great disadvantages, and has to
carry weights in all his races which are almost unfair. He lies as a
matter of course, believing thoroughly in lies, thinking that it is
by lies chiefly that he must make his running good; and yet every lie
he tells, after it has been told and used, remains as an additional
weight to be carried. When you have used your lie gracefully and
successfully, it is hard to bury it and get it well out of sight.
It crops up here and there against you, requiring more lies; and
at last, too often, has to be admitted as a lie, most usually
so admitted in silence, but still admitted,--to be forgiven or
not, according to the circumstances of the case. The most perfect
forgiveness is that which is extended to him who is known to lie
in everything. The man has to be taken, lies and all, as a man is
taken with a squint, or a harelip, or a bad temper. He has an uphill
game to fight, but when once well known, he does not fall into the
difficulty of being believed.

George Hotspur's lie was believed. To our readers it may appear to
have been most gratuitous, unnecessary, and inexpedient. The girl
would not have quarrelled with him for going to the races,--would
never have asked anything about it. But George knew that he must make
his running. It would not suffice that she should not quarrel with
him. He had to win her, and it came so natural to him to lie! And the
lie was efficacious; she was glad to know that he stayed away from
the races--for her sake. Had it not been for her sake? She would not
bid him stay away, but she was so glad that he had stayed! The lie
was very useful;--if it only could have been buried and put out of
sight when used!

There was partridge-shooting for four days; not good shooting, but
work which carried the men far from home, and enabled Sir Harry to
look after his cousin. George, so looked after, did not dare to say
that on any day he would shirk the shooting. But Sir Harry, as he
watched his cousin, gradually lost his keenness for w