ing a
pack of dogs for an airing. There was the big silky-haired collie whom
Darsie loved, the splay-footed dachshund which she hated, the huge
mastiff which she feared, with one or two terriers of different breeds--
alert, friendly, and gentle-eyed. One and all came sniffing round her
as their master stopped to shake hands, and she stood up stiff and
straight, trying to look at ease, and as if she were not really in
momentary terror of an attack upon her ankles and skirts.

"Halloa!"

"How are you? Still living in a shower of jewels?"

"I _have_ been, but it's clearing off! The combination bracelet
finished the list. Now I'm beginning to live in fear of another
burglary, on myself. It will be a relief to get the things distributed.
Mother is to have the watch, Clemence the pendant, Lavender the brooch,
and I am going to be greedy and keep the bracelet and necklace and ring
for myself."

"What a miser!" cried Ralph, laughing. His grey eyes looked very
handsome and agreeable lit up with the twinkling light of amusement, and
Darsie's spirits rose still a degree higher as he whistled to the dogs
and turned round with the evident intention of accompanying her home.

"We'll come along with you. It doesn't matter where we go so long as we
have a run. Bound for the Manor, I suppose? How's the old lady? In a
good humour, I should say. You look particularly full of beams this
afternoon!"

"I am--brimming over! You see before you, kind sir, the touching
spectacle of a young female who has not a single ungratified wish in the
world, and is so happy that she doesn't know how to preserve a decent
appearance of calm. It's the more extraordinary because she usually
wants quite a lot."

Ralph's eyebrows went up in expressive disdain.

"Re-al-ly! You don't say so! Glad to hear it, I'm shaw! The kind
donors would be much gratified to know of the magic effect of their
gifts. I wonder, under the circumstances, that you could bear to part
from any of them!"

The words were spoken in his most drawling and superior voice, and
brought the blood rushing into Darsie's cheeks. She stood still in the
middle of the road, and glared at him with flashing eyes.

"Horrible boy! What a disagreeable mind you must have, to think such
mean, contemptible thoughts! Bother the jewellery! It may go to
Jericho for all I care. I'm happy for a very different reason. Aunt
Maria has just promised to pay for me to go to Newnham,