llyooly enjoyed these walks. The duke never tried to improve her
mind with botany. But she learned much country lore from him, the
names and habits of many birds and small animals. In spite of his
exalted station, he was a simple soul; and he had retained his boyish
interest in the furred and feathered world of the woods and meadows
round the court. Also he enjoyed telling Pollyooly things.
Unconsciously, but quite accurately, he regarded her as his
intellectual equal; and it pleased him very much to tell her things she
did not know. It gave him a sense of passing, but genuine superiority,
a feeling his fellow creatures seldom inspired into him.

Sometimes he wondered why he had never thought of making a companion of
Marion. He made up his mind that when, presently, he was reconciled
with the duchess (he had no doubt ever that presently they would be
reconciled) he would make a companion of her. It never entered his
mind that there would be any difficulty about doing so.

The Honourable John Ruffin came down for a week-end and was pleased to
find the duke and Pollyooly on such excellent terms. So pleased was he
that he forebore, by a considerable effort, to tease the duke. At
least he did not tease him more than was good for him. Also, to his
great surprise, he found himself suffering from a twinge of jealousy
now and again at Pollyooly's frank display of friendliness for the
duke. He told himself that it was wholly absurd. But there it was:
with his money and influence the duke could do so much more for her
than he could. He consoled himself with the thought that after all the
duke would be only carrying on his work.

On the Saturday afternoon they went, as was their wont, for a stroll
through the woods; and the Honourable John Ruffin, who had so carefully
gratified his great inborn interest in the human race that now he
missed very little, observed that once or twice the duke paused and
looked about him as if he missed something.

The next afternoon as they were starting, the duke said in a voice
which was not as easy as it tried to be, and with an air that was
distinctly shame-faced:

"I say: we may as well take Pollyooly with us."

The Honourable John Ruffin raised his eyebrows a little and said:

"Oh, well--little pitchers have long ears, don't you know."

"Oh, that's all right--that's all right, we needn't talk secrets," said
the duke quickly; and he ran lightly up the stairs to fetch her.