e."

"Turned out a happy match, and all that sort of thing, though, I
suppose?" said Mouncey.

"Happy! yes, I should think so. Sir Murray worships her, and she's
never happy unless he's along with her, or else going hunting weeds and
grass and moss in the hills. Lor' bless you! it's wonderful what a
happy pair they are. Awfully jealous man, though, Sir Murray--nearly
had a duel with a foreign Count, who wanted to be too attentive to my
lady; but when my gentleman found as master meant fight, he cooled down,
and made an apology."

"Ladyship changed much?" said Chunt.

"Well, no; not much," said Gurdon. "We all look older at the end of
five years. She always was pale, and perhaps she is a bit thinner than
when she went away. But there, you'll see her safe enough before long;
they'll be home to-morrow, and she'll be always out, either riding or
walking."

"I used to fancy that things wouldn't turn out happily after that
set-out at the church door," said Huttoft, venturing another remark.
"Of course you know as Mr Norton's settled down at the Hall?--married
Miss Lee, you know. Good customer of mine, too."

"Ah, yes; we know all about that," said Gurdon, sarcastically. "Her
ladyship was frightened, of course; and enough to frighten any lady, to
see a mad-brain fellow rush at her like that. Boy and girl love affair,
that's what that was. Them sort of things never come to nought; and
look how soon he got over it and married. Her ladyship was upset about
it, though, when she got the news. She was fond of her cousin, you
know, Miss Lee, and you may say what you like here, but we got the right
tale over abroad about that Captain Norton shooting her; while, when her
ladyship heard that her cousin had been foolish enough to marry him, she
had a brain fever, and was bad for weeks. No wonder, neither. He must
be half-cracked with sunstroke or drink. They do say them Indy officers
drink hard. Well, just one more, gents, and this must be the last."

Mr Mouncey could not help siding with the butler, for he happened to
know that Captain Norton was a bit queer at times, as the servants had
told him more than once, going rushing off to all parts without saying a
word to anybody, not even to Mrs Norton; and he couldn't quite see
through it, unless it was, as Mr Gurdon said, the Captain was, after
all, a bit touched.

"By the way, though," said Chunt, "isn't he taking up with that Iron
Company?"

"Iron!" said Gurd