ay almost be said
that it is their great business to avoid such a catastrophe. Such ought
not to have been the case with Fred Neville now;--but in such light he
regarded it. He had already said to himself that Sophie Mellerby was to
be pitched at his head. He knew no reason,--none as yet,--why he should
not like Miss Mellerby well enough. But he was a little on his guard
against her, and preferred seeing his horses first. Sophie, when
according to custom, and indeed in this instance in accordance with
special arrangement, she went into Lady Scroope's sitting-room for tea,
was rather disappointed at not finding Mr. Neville there. She knew that
he had visited his uncle immediately on his arrival, and having just
come in from the park she had gone to her room to make some little
preparation for the meeting. If it was written in Fate's book that she
was to be the next Lady Scroope, the meeting was important. Perhaps that
writing in Fate's book might depend on the very adjustment which she was
now making of her hair.

"He has gone to look at his horses," said Lady Scroope, unable not to
shew her disappointment by the tone of her voice.

"That is so natural," said Sophie, who was more cunning. "Young men
almost idolize their horses. I should like to go and see Dandy whenever
he arrives anywhere, only I don't dare!" Dandy was Miss Mellerby's own
horse, and was accustomed to make journeys up and down between Mellerby
and London.

"I don't think horses and guns and dogs should be too much thought of,"
said Lady Scroope gravely. "There is a tendency I think at present to
give them an undue importance. When our amusements become more serious
to us than our business, we must be going astray."

"I suppose we always are going astray," said Miss Mellerby. Lady Scroope
sighed and shook her head; but in shaking it she shewed that she
completely agreed with the opinion expressed by her guest.

As there were only two horses to be inspected, and as Fred Neville
absolutely refused the groom's invitation to look at the old carriage
horses belonging to the family, he was back in his aunt's room before
Miss Mellerby had gone upstairs to dress for dinner. The introduction
was made, and Fred did his best to make himself agreeable. He was such
a man that no girl could, at the first sight of him, think herself
injured by being asked to love him. She was a good girl, and would have
consented to marry no man without feeling sure of his affectio