la had hardly ventured even to glance at him, but yet she
knew all that he did, and heard almost every word that he spoke.
The words were not many, but still when he did speak his voice was
cheerful. Nina now and again had run up to him, and Lady Rufford had
asked him some questions about the music. But why didn't he come out
and speak to her? thought Ayala. Though all that nonsense about love
was over, still he ought not to have allowed a day to pass at Stalham
without speaking to her. He was the oldest friend there in that
house except Nina. It was indeed no more than nine months since she
had first seen him, but still it seemed to her that he was an old
friend. She did feel, as she endeavoured to answer the questions that
Lord Rufford was asking her, that Jonathan Stubbs was treating her
unkindly.

Then came the moment in which Lady Albury marshalled her guests out
of the room towards their chambers. "Have you found yourself dull
without the hunting?" the Colonel said to Ayala.

"Oh dear no; I must have a dull time if I do, seeing that I have
only hunted three days in my life." There was something in the tone
of her voice which, as she herself was aware, almost expressed
dissatisfaction. And yet not for worlds would she have shown herself
to be dissatisfied with him, could she have helped it.

"I thought that perhaps you might have regretted the little pony," he
said.

"Because a thing has been very pleasant, it should not be regretted
because it cannot be had always."

"To me a thing may become so pleasant, that unless I can have it
always my life must be one long regret."

"The pony is not quite like that," said Ayala, smiling, as she
followed the other ladies out of the room.

On the next morning the meet was nearer, and some of the ladies were
taken there in an open carriage. Lady Rufford went, and Mrs. Gosling,
and Nina and Ayala. "Of course there is a place for you," Lady Albury
had said to her. "Had I wanted to go I would have made Sir Harry send
the drag; but I've got to stop at home and see that the buttered
toast is ready by the time the gentlemen all come back." The morning
was almost warm, so that the sportsmen were saying evil things of
violets and primroses, as is the wont of sportsmen on such occasions,
and at the meet the ladies got out of the carriage and walked about
among the hounds, making civil speeches to old Tony. "No, my lady,"
said Tony, "I don't like these sunshiny mornings at all;