n that he would ride him
over a fence if he remained there making the attempt all night. For
two weary hours he did remain, with a groom behind him, spurring the
brute against a thick hedge, with a ditch at the other side of it,
and at the end of the two hours he succeeded. The horse at last made
a buck leap and went over with a loud grunt. On his way home Lord
Chiltern sold the horse to a farmer for fifteen pounds;--and that
was the end of Dandolo as far as the Harrington Hall stables were
concerned. This took place on the Friday, the 8th of February. It was
understood that Mr. Spooner was to return to Spoon Hall on Saturday,
and on Monday, the 11th, Phineas was to go to London. On the 12th
the Session would begin, and he would once more take his seat in
Parliament.

"I give you my word and honour, Lady Chiltern," Gerard Maule said to
his hostess, "I believe that oaf of a man is making up to Adelaide."
Mr. Maule had not been reticent about his love towards Lady Chiltern,
and came to her habitually in all his troubles.

"Chiltern has told me the same thing."

"No!"

"Why shouldn't he see it, as well as you? But I wouldn't believe it."

"Upon my word I believe it's true. But, Lady Chiltern--"

"Well, Mr. Maule."

"You know her so well."

"Adelaide, you mean?"

"You understand her thoroughly. There can't be anything in it; is
there?"

"How anything?"

"She can't really--like him?"

"Mr. Maule, if I were to tell her that you had asked such a question
as that I don't believe that she'd ever speak a word to you again;
and it would serve you right. Didn't you call him an oaf?"

"I did."

"And how long has she known him?

"I don't believe she ever spoke to him before yesterday."

"And yet you think that she will be ready to accept this oaf as her
husband to-morrow! Do you call that respect?"

"Girls do such wonderful strange things. What an impudent ass he must
be!"

"I don't see that at all. He may be an ass and yet not impudent, or
impudent and yet not an ass. Of course he has a right to speak his
mind,--and she will have a right to speak hers."

CHAPTER XIX

Something Out of the Way

The Brake hounds went out four days a week, Monday, Wednesday,
Friday, and Saturday; but the hunting party on this Saturday was very
small. None of the ladies joined in it, and when Lord Chiltern came
down to breakfast at half-past eight he met no one but Gerard Maule.
"Where's Spooner?" he asked. But neit