day was a very memorable day for Jack. The day after a falling in
love is always a red-letter day; but the day after the falling in love--ah!

One looks back--far back--to the day before, and those hours of the day
before, when her sun had not yet dawned, and struggles to recollect what
ends life could have represented then. And one looks forward to the next
day, the next week, the next year--but, particularly to the next morning
with sensations as indescribable as they are delightful.

Whichever way you tip it, the kaleidoscope of the future arranges itself
in equally attractive shapes of rainbow hue, and the prospect over land or
sea--even if it is raining--looks brilliant green, and brighter red, and
brightest yellow.

Upon that glorious "next day" of Jack's the weather was quite a thing
apart for February--partaking of the warmth of May, and owing that fact to
a sun which early June need not have scorned to own. Under the
circumstances the house party overflowed the house and ravaged the
surrounding country, and Jack and Mrs. Rosscott began it all by having the
highest cart and the fastest cob in the stables and making for the forest
just as the clock was tolling ten.

"Do you want a groom?" asked Burnett, who was occasionally very cruel.

"Well, I'm not going to wait for him to get ready now," replied his
sister, who had sharp wits and did not disdain to give even her own family
the benefit of them.

Then she gathered up the reins and whip in a most scientific manner, and
they were off. Jack folded his arms. He was simply flooded, drenched, and
saturated with joy. The evening before had been Elysium when she had only
been his now and again for a minute's conversation, but now she was to be
his and his alone until--until they came back--and his mind seemed able to
grasp no dearer outlines of the form which Bliss Incarnate may be supposed
to take. He didn't care where they went or what they saw or what they
talked of, just if only he and she might be going, seeing, and talking for
the benefit of one another and of one another alone.

They bowled away upon a firm, hard road that skirted the park, and then
plunged deeply into the forest. Mrs. Rosscott handled the reins and the
whip with the hands of an expert.

"I like to drive," said she.

"You appear to," he answered.

"I like to do everything," she said. "I'm very athletic and energetic."

"I'm glad of that," he told her warmly. "I like athletic girls."