days. Tell me!--did you ever hunt in France?"

"Never," said Ashe, startled and amused by the sudden glance of
enthusiasm that lit up the face and expressed itself in the clasped
hands.

"Oh! it's such heaven," she said, lifting her shoulders with an
extravagant gesture--"such <i>heaven</i>! First there are the old
dresses--the men look such darlings!--and then the horns, and the old
ways they have--<i>si noble!--si distingue!</i>--not like your stupid English
hunting. And then the dogs! Ah! the <i>dogs</i>"--the shoulders went higher
still; "do you know my cousin Henri actually gave me a puppy of the
great breed--<i>the</i> breed, you know--the Dogs of St. Hubert. Or at least
he <i>would</i> if maman would have let me bring it over. And she wouldn't!
Just think of that! When there are thousands of people in France who'd
give the eyes out of their head for one. I cried all one
night--Allons!--faut pas y penser!"--she shook back the hair from her
eyes with an impatient gesture. "My cousins have got a chateau, you
know, in the Seine-et-Oise. They've promised to ask me next year--when
the Grand-Duke Paul comes--if I'll promise to behave. You see, I'm not a
bit like French girls--I had so many affairs!"

Her eyes flashed with laughter.

Ashe laughed too.

"Are you going to tell me about them also?"

She drew herself up.

"No! I play fair, always--ask anybody! Oh, I <i>do</i> want to go back to
France so badly!" Once more she was all appeal and childishness.
"Anyway, I won't stay in England! I have made up my mind to that!"

"How long has it taken?"

"A fortnight," she said, slowly--"just a fortnight."

"That hardly seems time enough--does it?" said Ashe. "Give us a little
longer."

"No--I--I hate you!" said Lady Kitty, with a strange drop in her voice.
Her little fingers began to drum on the table near her, and to Ashe's
intense astonishment he saw her eyes fill with tears.

Suddenly a movement towards the other room set in around them. Madame
d'Estrees could be heard giving directions. A space was made in the
large drawing-room--a little table appeared in it, and a footman placed
thereon a glass of water.

Lady Kitty looked up.

"Oh, that <i>detestable</i> man!" she said, drawing back. "No--I can't, I
can't bear it. Come with me!" and beckoning to Ashe she fled with
precipitation into the farther part of the inner drawing-room, out of
her mother's sight. Ashe followed her, and she dropped panting and elat