e shape of the lost roll upon a plate, to an old bachelor
of sixty, who appeared much delighted at the prospect. Truda was
playing tunes on the rim of her tumbler; Avice had actually a tinge of
colour in her checks; and Hope sat perched on a cushion, looking down on
them all like a queen on her throne. Before the meal had begun she had
found herself seated uncomfortably between two of the least interesting
of the sportsmen; but she had hardly time to realise her disappointment
before--presto! the scene was changed. Mr Merrilies had strolled
towards the pony-cart, and returned with an armful of cushions, which he
placed on the ground close to where he himself had been sitting.

"There!" he said; "those are for you, Miss Charrington. You have
evidently not mastered the art of lunching comfortably on the ground,
and we shall have to break you in by degrees. Let me take your plate."

Thus in the most open and natural fashion the change was effected which
was fraught with so much satisfaction to the two people most concerned.
It was so much pleasanter than the old position, thought innocent Hope--
the view was more extended, more beautiful, more sunny and cheerful; and
to judge from his unusual animation, Ralph Merrilies was of the same
mind as herself. There was no chance of private conversation; but there
are occasions when the most commonplace phrases become interesting and
the very passing of the mustard is a thrilling incident!

When lunch was over the ladies agreed to walk a little way with the men,
leaving the carts to pick them up at another point. Once again Hope
found herself carried off by Ralph Merrilies, and guided by such a
circuitous path that the other members of the party were soon ahead and
safely out of hearing. For a time they talked of matters connected with
the day's sport, but gradually the conversation took a more personal
tone, and Hope found Mr Merrilies confiding details of his life to her
attentive ears. It appeared that his parents were dead, and that he
owned an estate in Hampshire, where he lived in much luxury, and greater
boredom, during such portions of the year as he was not visiting or
risking his life abroad in search of adventure; that he was, in short,
one of those wealthy, idle men of whom she had often read, but whom she
had never met. As for him, he was charmed by her naive interest and
curiosity concerning himself and his doings. She asked for a
description of the house,