y, "cows mam, I
understand--quite natural indeed!"

"I loathe and abominate the country, sir--so rude and savage! Such mud
and so--so infinite muddy and clingy! What can one do in the country
but mope and sigh to be out of it?"

"Well, one can walk in it, mam, and----"

"Walk, sir? But I nauseate walking--in the country extremely. Think
of the brooks sir, so--so barbarously wet and--and brooky. Think of
the wind so bold to rumple one and spiky things to drag at and tear and
take liberties with one's garments! Think of the things that creep and
crawl and the things that fly and buzz--and the spiders' webs that
tickle one's face! No sir, no--the country is no place for one endowed
with a fine and delicate nature."

"Certainly not, mam," said the Major heartily. "Then you'll be leaving
shortly?"

"I so beseech Heaven on my two bended knees, sir, but alas, I know not!
'Tis Betty--an orphan, sweet child and in my care. But indeed she's so
wickedly wilful, so fly-by-night, so rampant o' youth and--and
unreason."

"Indeed, mam!"

"And though sweet Bet is an angel of goodness she hath a temper, O!"

"Hum!" said the Major.

"And such--such animal spirits! So vulgarly robust! Such rude health
and vigorous as a dairy-maid! And talking of dairy matters, only the
other morning I found her positively--milking a cow!"

"Egad and did you so, mam?"

"And this morning such a romping in the dairy and there was she--O sir!"

"What, mam?"

"Arms all naked--churning, sir!

"O, churning?"

"Riotously, sir!"

"Did you--er--swoon, mam?"

"Indeed I could ha' done, dear Major, but--'twixt you and me, though
dear Bet hath the best of hearts, she is perhaps a little unsympathetic
I'll not deny, and hath betimes a sharp tongue, I must confess."

"Indeed I--I should judge so, mam."

"O you men!" sighed the Lady Belinda, turning up her eyes, "so quick to
spy out foibles feminine--la sir and fie! But indeed though I do love
my sweet Bet, O passionately, truth bids me say she can be almost
shrewish!"

"You have my sympathy, mam!"

"Dear Major, I deserve it---if you only knew! The pranks she hath
played me--so wild, so ungoverned, so--so unvirginal!" The Major
winced. "I have known her gallop her horse in the
paddock--man-fashion!" The Major looked relieved; perceiving which,
Lady Belinda, sinking her voice, continued: "And once, sir, O heaven,
can I ever forget! Once--O I tremble to speak it! Once----" T