ughed and was
happy, had roses on her cheeks, and pleasure in her eyes. Seeing this,
the husband appeared contented and at ease.

They and the Dugdales rode merrily into Kingcombe, much to that good
town's astonishment. The equestrian quartette at Marmaduke's door was
a sight that the worthy inhabitants of that sleepy street would not get
over for a week. Everybody gathered at doors and windows, and a small
group of farmers at the market quadrangle stared with all their eyes.
The sensation created was enormous, and likewise the crowd,--almost as
dense as a wandering juggler gathers in a quiet suburban London street!
Agatha, passing through it, laughed till she could laugh no longer.

Her husband, pleased at her gaiety, came to lift her off her horse.

"Not a bit of it!" Mrs. Dugdale cried. "Keep your seat, Agatha; no time
to lose; on we go in a minute, when Duke has been to get his letters.
Here, Brian, my pet."--There had rushed out round her horse a cluster of
infantine Dugdales.--"Lift Brian up here, Uncle Nathanael, and I'll give
him a canter. Bravo! He's Pa's own boy, born for a rider! Come along,
Auntie Agatha."

Agatha would willingly have followed down the street. She was amused by
the daring of the mother and the boy, and amused especially by her new
title of "Auntie Agatha."

"Do let me go, Mr. Harper; I don't want to dismount, indeed."

"But I have something to say to you--just a few words. We must decide
to-day about the house, you know."

"Never mind the house; I had rather not think about it." And the mere
shadow of past vexation still vexed her. "Ah!" she added, entreatingly,
"do be good to me--do let me enjoy myself for once!"

"I would not prevent you for the world." He dropped her bridle with a
sigh, and turned back among his little nephews.

Fred had coaxed the horse from the groom, and Gus was bent on mounting;
there was a dreadful struggle, and angry cries for Uncle Nathanael. In
the midst of it Uncle Nathanael appeared, like an angel of peace, and
setting the boys one behind another on his horse's back, led the animal
up and down carefully.

Agatha looked after them, thinking how kind and good her husband was.
She wished she had not refused so hastily such a simple request; she
began to think herself a wretch for ever contradicting him in anything.

The little party started again, increased by the arrival of the family
carriage from Kingcombe Holm, wherein sat Mary and Eulalie. To these