I were busy, Jevons could
take you round. He'd teach you quite as well, or better, than I should
myself."

"Oh!"--she beamed at him, a picture of happiness--"it will be fine!
I've always longed to ride. And afterwards, when I'm quite good--I feel
it in my bones that I _shall_ be good--will you still--"

He laughed good-naturedly. He is extraordinarily good-natured to
Delphine.

"Lend you Bess? Certainly. As often as you like. Do her good to have
the exercise."

"And when I'm _very_ good--very good indeed--will you--"

He shook his head.

"Ah, hunting is a different matter. Rather a responsibility. What? We
must see what John says. In the meantime, you'll get a habit?"

"Yes." She glanced at me quickly, and glanced away. "Where shall I go?
Would Matthews--"

Matthews was the local tailor. The Squire waved aside the suggestion
with masculine scorn.

"Certainly not. Do the thing properly when you are about it. Nothing
worse than a badly-cut habit. Better go up to town!"

Again Delphine glanced at me. The obvious thing was for me to return
her invitation and invite her to stay with me for the transaction, but
obviously I couldn't do it. Moreover I did not _want_ to, so I stared
blankly before me, and resigned myself to being thought a mean thing.

"Oh, well--I'll manage somehow," Delphine said in a tone of finality,
which was obviously intended to stop the discussion.

Mr Maplestone looked at me and said:--

"Mrs Fane has already left, I believe. I suppose you will join her
later."

"I think not. She has gone abroad. I shall remain in England."

Delphine gave a short, irritable laugh. I had annoyed her, and
child-like, she wished to hit back.

"Abroad, and England! That's all the address we are vouchsafed. Mrs
Fane and Miss Wastneys evidently wish to shake off the dust of this
village as soon as they drive away from `Pastimes'. Even if we wish to
communicate with them, we shall not be able to do it."

"Oh, yes, Delphine, you will," I contradicted. "I have told you that
letters will always reach us through our lawyers."

"Lawyers!" she repeated eloquently. "As if one could send ordinary
letters in a roundabout way like that! I wouldn't dare to write through
a lawyer, unless it were a matter of life and death. I must say,
Evelyn, you are queer! When we have got to know each other so well,
too!"

"You thought it `queer' that Charmion and I should live here together;
and