consulting my watch I found it was
just twelve o'clock. Consequently all the farm labourers had gone
home to their midday meal.

Suddenly we heard a peal of resounding laughter quite close at hand,
only the sound seemed to come somewhat from above us. I looked up in
the direction of the undulating heath; and on the top of a sand-hill,
overgrown with grass, stood the person who was enjoying our perplexity.

"Major Frank!" exclaimed the driver in his shrill tone of voice,
his astonishment and annoyance causing him to show little respect.

It was indeed Francis Mordaunt herself who was mocking us. Really,
I could never have anticipated such a reception.

As she stood there, some feet above me but still pretty near, I had a
good view of her; and I cannot say that this first sight reconciled
me to the person who had already caused me so many disagreeable
emotions. Perhaps it was not her fault; but she was dressed in such
a strange manner that at first sight I was doubtful whether a man
or a woman stood before me. She had gathered up her riding-habit in
a way that reminded me of Zouave trousers, and she had, besides, put
on a wide cloak made of some long-haired material--which was doubtless
very useful this sharp, cold spring day, but which, buttoned up to her
throat, was not adapted to show off the beauty of her form if she was
really well-shaped. Her head-gear consisted of a gray billy-cock hat
with a soft, downward-bent brim, ornamented with a bunch of cock's
feathers negligently fastened with a green ribbon--just as if she
really wished to imitate the wild huntsman of the fairy tale. And then,
because it was rather windy, she had tied a red silk handkerchief over
her hat and fastened it under her chin. She wore no veil. As far as I
could judge of her appearance, she seemed to be rather delicately built
and slim, with a fine Roman nose. Still, I was not in the humour to be
agreeably impressed by a face convulsed with laughter, and bandaged
up as if she had the toothache. Her laugh sounded to my ears like
a provocation, and rendered me little inclined to be courteous to a
woman who had so evidently forgotten all feminine self-respect.

"Listen," I cried--"listen for a moment, you who are rejoicing so
much at your neighbour's distress. You would do better to direct us
on our way."

"There is no way. I should have thought you could see that. Any one
who enters this wood except with the purpose of driving round it,
doe