y appeared on the
outside equipped for his journey.

Then he hastily threw himself into his saddle, and rode off, attended by
his mounted groom.

Col. Anglesea walked leisurely down to the stables, chose a horse to his
mind, ordered him to be saddled and brought up to the house, and then he
returned to prepare himself for a "constitutional" gallop along the
highroad.

Mrs. Force confined herself to her own room that day.

Odalite walked out into the woods, and then down to the seashore, followed
by her faithful companion, Joshua.

The two younger children remained shut up in the schoolroom with Miss
Meeke, diligently preparing for their home examination, that was to earn
for them, if satisfactorily passed, many Christmas premiums and a long
Christmas holiday.

And so the bright and kindly winter day passed.

When Col. Anglesea came home to dinner he found only Miss Meeke and the
two little girls in the dining room.

Miss Meeke apologized for the absence of the ladies, pleading that Mrs.
Force was suffering from indisposition, and that Miss Force was attending
her; and with this explanation the governess took the head of the table.

Col. Anglesea politely expressed his regret, and then made himself as
agreeable as possible to the remaining party.

It was so very late when Mr. Force returned that, finding the family had
already taken tea, he declined the refreshment offered by Miss Meeke, and
pleading fatigue, excused himself and retired, expressing his
satisfaction, however, that the trial which had occupied so much of his
time was at length happily concluded.

CHAPTER X

HUSBAND AND WIFE

Mr. Force was not obliged to ride to town the next day, for which he was
thankful.

All the family met around the breakfast table in high spirits, with the
exception of Mrs. Force and her daughter, Odalite, both of whom were pale
and almost silent, trying to overcome their depression of spirits and to
take a lively part in the conversation, but failing signally.

Col. Anglesea kept the ball rolling, however, by talking gayly to Miss
Meeke, Wynnette and Elva, and sometimes gravely to Mr. Force or others.

Mr. Force watched his wife and daughter very anxiously, and drew his own
conclusions from the false premises laid down by Col. Anglesea.

"My dear wife is troubled about Odalite, and Odalite is troubled about
herself. They both think that I shall forbid the attentions of Anglesea,
and insist on the claims