his end, and availed himself of the covert
afforded by the common to watch Colet House. Thanks to this simple
device he was able to meet or overtake Mrs. Dangerfield, somewhere in
the first half-mile of her afternoon walk.

They grew intimate quickly, thanks chiefly to his simple directness;
and he found that his first impression that he wanted her more than he
had ever wanted anything in his life, more even than he had wanted, in
his enthusiastic youth, to shoot a black rhinoceros, was right. He had
been making arrangements for another shooting expedition; but he
perceived now very clearly, indeed, that it was his immediate duty to
settle down in life, provide the Hall with a mistress, and do his duty
by his estate and his neighbors.

He had had no experience of women; but his hunting had developed his
instinct and he perceived that he must proceed very warily indeed, that
to bring Mrs. Dangerfield over the boundary-line of friendship into the
land of romance was the most difficult enterprise he had ever dreamed
of. But he had a stout heart, the hunter's pertinacity, and a burning
resolve to succeed.

He wanted all the help he could get; and he saw that the Twins would be
useful friends in the matter. But did they chance on him walking with
their mother, or at tea with her, they held politely but gloomily
aloof. He must abate their hostility.

He contrived, therefore, to meet them on the common as they were
starting one afternoon on an expedition, greeted them cheerfully,
stopped and said: "I'm awfully sorry I gave you away the other day.
But I never saw your mother till I'd done it."

"Don't mention it," said the Terror with cold graciousness.

"So you ought to be," said Erebus.

"It's a pity you should lose your fishing. If I'd known how good you
both were at it, I should have given you leave when I got your letter,"
said Sir James hypocritically. "But I was misinformed about you."

"It's worse that mother should lose the trout. She does hate butcher's
meat so, and it is so difficult to get her to eat properly," said
Erebus in a somewhat mollified tone.

"It's like that, is it?" said Sir James quickly; and an expression of
deep concern filled his face.

"Yes, and she did eat those trout," said Erebus plaintively.

Sir James knitted his brow in frowning thought; and the Twins watched
him with little hope in their faces. Of a sudden his brow grew smooth;
and he said:

"Look here: you mayn't fis