he generally borrows them of a
woman.' Mr. Falkirk's face relaxed slightly, and he took a
turn across the room; then stood still. 'Why didn't you ride
the cob home?--he is there still, isn't he?'

'I did not choose, sir. I should, if I had been asked
properly.'

'Were you not asked?'

'No, except by having my saddle put on that horse and then not
taking it off.'

'You made the demand?'

'Of course. That is, I told the groom to do it.'

Mr. Falkirk smiled and then laughed, or came as near to
laughing as he often did.

'So you wouldn't ask him into the house? But did you see
anybody else in your yesterday's expedition, my dear?'

She glanced up at him, evidently growing restive under this
cross-questioning.

'I saw Mr. Nightingale.'

'Nightingale!' echoed Mr. Falkirk. 'Where did you see Mr.
Nightingale, Miss Kennedy?'

'In the woods.'

'And what the----. My dear, what were you doing in the woods?'

'Won't you finish your first sentence first, sir? I like to
take things in order.'

Mr. Falkirk's brows drew together; he looked down and then
looked up, awaiting his answer.

'I was doing nothing in the woods, sir, but finding my way
home.'

'How came _he_ to be there? Did he speak to you?'

'Yes, sir, he spoke to me.'

'What did he say?' said Mr. Falkirk, looking very gravely
intent.

'Before we go any further, Mr. Falkirk,' said the girl,
steadily, though she coloured a good deal, 'is it to be your
pleasure in future to know every word that may be said to me?
Because in that case, it will be needful to engage a reporter.
You must see, sir, that I should never be equal to it.'

'My dear,' said Mr. Falkirk slowly, 'we are embarked on a
search after fortune;--which always embraced on my part an
earnest purpose to avoid misfortune.'

'You sit there,' she went on, scarce heeding him, 'and ask me
"where I was" and "where I was going" and "what I said"--as if
I would forget myself among strange people in this strange
place!--And then you take for granted that I would be rude to
one person whom I do know, just because he had vexed me! I _did_
ask him in, and he wouldn't come. I am unpractised--wild,
maybe--but am I so unwomanly, Mr. Falkirk? Do you think I am?'
It was almost pitiful, the way the young eyes scanned his
face. If Mr. Falkirk had not been a guardian! But he was
steel.

Yet even steel will give forth flashes, and one of those
flashes came from under Mr. Falkirk's brows now. His answer