That's what I'm always telling my wife, so that
she may know what she has got to expect." Mr. Twentyman had been
married just twelve months.

"She isn't much frightened, I daresay," said the Colonel.

"She's young, you see," continued the farmer, "and hasn't settled
herself down yet to the sorrows of life." This was that Mr. Lawrence
Twentyman who married Kate Masters, the youngest daughter of old
Masters, the attorney at Dillsborough, and sister of Mrs. Morton,
wife of the squire of Bragton. "By the holy," said Twentyman,
suddenly, "the hounds have put a fox out of that little spinney."

CHAPTER XXIV.

RUFFORD CROSS-ROADS.

Ayala, who had been listening attentively to the conversation of Mr.
Twentyman, and been feeling that she was being initiated every moment
into a new phase of life,--who had been endeavouring to make some
connection in her mind between the new charms of the world around
her and that world of her dreams that was ever present to her, and
had as yet simply determined that neither could Lord Rufford or Mr.
Twentyman have ever been an Angel of Light,--at once straightened
herself in her saddle, and prepared herself for the doing of
something memorable. It was evident to her that Mr. Twentyman
considered that the moment for action had come. He did not gallop
off wildly, as did four or five others, but stood still for a moment
looking intently at a few hounds who, with their tails feathering
in the air and with their noses down, seemed at the same time to be
irresolute and determined, knowing that the scent was there but not
yet quite fixed as to its line. "Half a moment, Colonel," he said,
standing up in his stirrups, with his left hand raised, while his
right held his reins and his whip close down on his horse's neck.
"Half a moment!" He only whispered, and then shook his head angrily,
as he heard the ill-timed shouting of one or two men who had already
reached the other side of the little skirting of trees. "I wish Fred
Botsey's tongue were tied to his teeth," he said, still whispering.
"Now, Colonel, they have it. There's a little lane to the right, and
a gate. After that the country's open, and there's nothing which the
ladies' nags can't do. I know the country so well, you'd perhaps
better come with me for a bit."

"He knows all about it," said the Colonel to Ayala. "Do as he tells
you."

Ayala and Nina both were quick enough to obey. Twentyman dashed
along the lane, while the girl