, Clo. I taught thee naught
decent, and thou never heard or saw aught to teach thee. Damn me!"
almost with moisture in his eyes, "if I know what kept thee from going to
ruin before thou wert fifteen."

She sat and watched him steadily.

"Nor I," quoth she, in answer. "Nor I--but here thou seest me, Dad--an
earl's lady, sitting before thee."

"'Twas thy wit," said he, still moved, and fairly maudlin. "'Twas thy
wit and thy devil's will!"

"Ay," she answered, "'twas they--my wit and my devil's will!"

She rode to the hunt with him as she had been wont to do, but she wore
the latest fashion in hunting habit and coat; and though 'twould not have
been possible for her to sit her horse better than of old, or to take
hedges and ditches with greater daring and spirit, yet in some way every
man who rode with her felt that 'twas a great lady who led the field. The
horse she rode was a fierce, beauteous devil of a beast which Sir Jeoffry
himself would scarce have mounted even in his younger days; but she
carried her loaded whip, and she sat upon the brute as if she scarcely
felt its temper, and held it with a wrist of steel.

My Lord Dunstanwolde did not hunt this season. He had never been greatly
fond of the sport, and at this time was a little ailing, but he would not
let his lady give up her pleasure because he could not join it.

"Nay," he said, "'tis not for the queen of the hunting-field to stay at
home to nurse an old man's aches. My pride would not let it be so. Your
father will attend you. Go--and lead them all, my dear."

In the field appeared Sir John Oxon, who for a brief visit was at
Eldershawe. He rode close to my lady, though she had naught to say to
him after her first greetings of civility. He looked not as fresh and
glowing with youth as had been his wont only a year ago. His reckless
wildness of life and his town debaucheries had at last touched his bloom,
perhaps. He had a haggard look at moments when his countenance was not
lighted by excitement. 'Twas whispered that he was deep enough in debt
to be greatly straitened, and that his marriage having come to naught his
creditors were besetting him without mercy. This and more than this, no
one knew so well as my Lady Dunstanwolde; but of a certainty she had
little pity for his evil case, if one might judge by her face, when in
the course of the running he took a hedge behind her, and pressing his
horse, came up by her side and spoke.

"Cl