.

He pulled up for a moment at The Woodman Inn to thank Mr. Groves for
the port, and that gentleman came out, as glad to see him as if he were
an old friend.

"Don't mention it, sir," he said. "I thought a long time before I sent
it, because I wasn't sure that Sir Stephen and you might think it a
liberty; but I needn't have done so, I know now. And it was kind of Sir
Stephen to send me a note with the sherry. It was like a gentleman, if
you'll excuse me saying so, sir."

Stafford rode over the hill and along the road by the stream, and as he
rode he looked round him eagerly and keenly. In fact, as if he were
scouting. But that for which he was looking so intently did not appear;
his spirits fell--though the sun was still shining--and he sighed
impatiently, and putting Adonis through the stream, cantered over the
moor at the foot of the hills. Suddenly he heard the bark of a dog, and
looking eagerly in the direction of the sound, he saw Ida Heron walking
quickly round the hill, with Donald and Bess scampering in front of
her.

The gloom vanished from Stafford's face, and he checked Adonis into a
walk. The dogs were the first to see him, and they tore towards him
barking a welcome. Ida looked up--she had been walking with her eyes
bent on the ground--the colour rose to her face, and she stopped for an
instant. Then she came on slowly, and by the time they had met there
was no trace of the transitory blush.

Stafford raised his hat and dismounted, and tried to speak in a casual
tone; but it was difficult to conceal the subtle delight which sprang
up within him at the sight of her; and he looked at the beautiful face
and the slim, graceful figure in its tailor-made gown--which, well worn
as it was, seemed to him to sit upon her as no other dress had ever sat
upon any other woman--he had hard work to keep the admiration from his
eyes.

"I begin to count myself a very lucky man, Miss Heron," he said.

"Why?" she asked, her grave eyes resting on him calmly.

"Because I have chanced to meet you again."

"It is not strange," she said. "I am nearly always out-of-doors. What a
beautiful horse!"

"Isn't it!" he said, grateful for her praise. "It is a new one--a
present from my father this morning."

"A very valuable present! It ought to be able to jump."

"It is. I put it at a bank just now, and it cleared it like a bird. I
am very glad I have met you. I wanted to tell you something."

She raised her eyes from the