"I did it because somebody told me."

"Ah," said Lord Rufford, with a sigh, "there is nothing like
ignorance, innocence, and youth combined. But why didn't Colonel
Stubbs get over after you?"

"Because Colonel Stubbs couldn't," said that gentleman, as he took
his seat in the vacant chair.

"It may be possible," said Sir Harry, "that a gentleman should not be
able to jump over Cranbury Brook; but any gentleman, if he will take
a little trouble, may come down in time for dinner."

"Now that I have been duly snubbed right and left," said the Colonel,
"perhaps I may eat my soup."

Ayala, who had expected she hardly knew what further troubles, and
who had almost feared that nobody would speak to her because she had
misbehaved herself, endeavoured to take heart of grace when she found
that all around her, including the Colonel himself, were as pleasant
as ever. She had fancied that Lady Albury had looked at her specially
when Colonel Stubbs took his seat, and she had specially noticed the
fact that his chair had not been next her own. These little matters
she was aware Lady Albury managed herself, and was aware also that in
accordance with the due rotation of things she and the Colonel should
have been placed together. She was glad that it was not so, but at
the same time she was confident that Lady Albury knew something of
what had passed between herself and her suitor. The evening, however,
went off easily, and nothing occurred to disturb her except that
the Colonel had called her by her Christian name, when as usual he
brought to her a cup of tea in the drawing-room. Oh, that he would
continue to do so, and yet not demand from her more than their old
friendship!

The next morning was Sunday, and they all went to church. It was a
law at Stalham that everyone should go to church on Sunday morning.
Sir Harry himself, who was not supposed to be a peculiarly religious
man, was always angry when any male guest did not show himself in the
enormous family pew. "I call it d---- indecent," he has been heard
to say. But nobody was expected to go twice,--and consequently
nobody ever did go twice. Lunch was protracted later than usual. The
men would roam about the grounds with cigars in their mouths, and
ladies would take to reading in their own rooms, in following which
occupation they would spend a considerable part of the afternoon
asleep. On this afternoon Lady Albury did not go to sleep, but
contrived to get Ayala alone