worry out a fish course without you, I don't deserve to have
half my diplomas. Run away: the house won't go to pieces in a single
hunting day."

"Bless you!" said Norah thankfully, dragging on her gloves and casting
a wild glance about the kitchen for her hunting crop. "Oh, there it
is. Good-bye. You won't forget that Major Arkwright is only allowed
white meat?"

"Oh, run away--I won't forget anything."

"Well, he only came last night, so I thought you mightn't know," said
the apologetic mistress of the house. "All right, Phil--I'm truly
coming. Good-bye, Miss de Lisle!" The words floated back as she
raced off to the front door, where the horses were fretting
impatiently, held by the groom.

They jogged down the avenue--Hardress on one of the brown cobs, Norah
on Brunette, the black pony--her favourite mount. It was a perfect
hunting morning: mild and still, with almost a hint of spring warmth
in the air. The leafless trees bore faint signs of swelling
leaf-buds. Here and there, in the grass beside the drive crocus bells
peeped out at them--purple, white and gold.

"We'll have daffodils soon, I do believe," Norah said. "Well, I love
Australia, but there isn't anything in the world lovelier than your
English spring!"

Ahead of them, as they turned into the road, they could see Mr.
Linton, looking extraordinarily huge on Killaloe, beside Geoffrey's
little figure on Brecon.

"This is a great day for Geoff," Hardress said.

"Yes--he has been just longing to go to a meet. Of course he has
driven a good many times, but Mrs. Hunt has been a bit nervous about
his riding. But he's perfectly safe--and it isn't as if Brecon ever
got excited."

"No. Come along, Norah, there's a splendid stretch of grass here:
let's canter!"

They had agreed upon a Christian-name footing some time before, when
it seemed that Hardress was likely to be a permanent member of the
household. She looked at him now, as they cantered along through the
dew-wet grass at the side of the road. No one would have guessed at
anything wrong with him: he was bronzed and clear-eyed, and sat as
easily in the saddle as though he had never been injured.

"Sometimes," said Norah suddenly, "I find myself wondering which of
your legs is the shop one!" She flushed. "I suppose I oughtn't to
make personal remarks, but your leg does seem family property!"

"So it is," said Hardress, grinning. "Anyhow, you couldn't make a
nicer personal rema