I--Two meet in the deserted rose garden, and the old Earl of
Dunstanwolde is made a happy man

It was not until three days later, instead of two, that Sir John Oxon
rode into the courtyard with his servant behind him. He had been
detained on his journey, but looked as if his impatience had not caused
him to suffer, for he wore his finest air of spirit and beauty, and when
he was alone with Sir Jeoffry, made his compliments to the absent ladies,
and inquired of their health with his best town grace.

Mistress Clorinda did not appear until the dining hour, when she swept
into the room like a queen, followed by her sister, Anne, and Mistress
Wimpole, this being the first occasion of Mistress Anne's dining, as it
were, in state with her family.

The honour had so alarmed her, that she looked pale, and so ugly that Sir
Jeoffry scowled at sight of her, and swore under his breath to Clorinda
that she should have been allowed to come.

"I know my own affairs the best, by your leave, sir," answered Clorinda,
as low and with a grand flash of her eye. "She hath been drilled well."

This she had indeed, and so had Mistress Wimpole, and throughout Sir John
Oxon's stay they were called upon to see that they played well their
parts. Two weeks he stayed and then rode gaily back to town, and when
Clorinda made her sweeping curtsey to the ground to him upon the
threshold of the flowered room in which he bade her farewell, both Anne
and Mistress Wimpole curtseyed a step behind her.

"Now that he has gone and you have shown me that you can attend me as I
wish," she said, turning to them as the sound of his horse's hoofs died
away, "it will not trouble me should he choose some day to come again. He
has not carried with him much that he can boast of."

In truth, it seemed to the outer world that she had held him well in
hand. If he had come as a sighing lover, the whole county knew she had
shown him but small favour. She had invited companies to the house on
several occasions, and all could see how she bore herself towards him.
She carried herself with a certain proud courtesy as becoming the
daughter of his host, but her wit did not spare him, and sometimes when
it was more than in common cutting he was seen to wince though he held
himself gallantly. There were one or two who thought they now and then
had seen his blue eyes fall upon her when he believed none were looking,
and rest there burningly for a moment, but 'twas neve