the Stalham post-bag on the Tuesday evening,
and did not reach Merle Park till the Thursday, after Lady Tringle
had left the house. Had it been known on that morning that Ayala was
engaged to Colonel Stubbs that would have sufficed to send Tom away
upon his travels without any more direct messenger from Stalham.

On the Wednesday there was more hunting, and on this day Ayala,
having liberated her mind to her lover in Gobblegoose Wood, was able
to devote herself more satisfactorily to the amusement in hand. Her
engagement was now an old affair. It had already become matter for
joking to Sir Harry, and had been discussed even with Mrs. Gosling.
It was, of course, "a joy for ever,"--but still she was beginning to
descend from the clouds and to walk the earth,--no more than a simple
queen. When, therefore, the hounds went away and Larry told her that
he knew the best way out of the wood, she collected her energies and
rode "like a little brick," as Sir Harry said when they got back to
Stalham. On that afternoon she received the note from her aunt and
replied to it by telegram.

On the Thursday she stayed at home and wrote various letters. The
first was to the Marchesa, and then one to Nina,--in both of which
much had to be said about "Jonathan." To Nina also she could repeat
her idea of the delight of having a man to love. Then there was a
letter to Aunt Margaret,--which certainly was due, and another to
Aunt Emmeline,--which was not however received until after Lady
Tringle's visit to Stalham. There was much conversation between her
and Lady Albury as to the possible purpose of the visit which was to
be made on the morrow. Lady Albury was of opinion that Lady Tringle
had heard of the engagement, and was coming with the intention of
setting it on one side on Tom's behalf. "But she can't do that, you
know," said Ayala, with some manifest alarm. "She is nothing to me
now, Lady Albury. She got rid of me, you know. I was changed away for
Lucy."

"If there had been no changing away, she could do nothing," said Lady
Albury.

About a quarter of an hour before the time for lunch on the following
day Lady Tringle was shown into the small sitting-room which has been
mentioned in a previous chapter, and Ayala, radiant with happiness
and beauty, appeared before her. There was a look about her of being
at home at Stalham, as though she were almost a daughter of the
house, that struck her aunt with surprise. There was nothing left