t of the county, had not had a chance. Tita had been everywhere; she seemed to fly. Every ball caught, and every ball so well planted. Rylton had scarcely be

in a bon camarade fashion that seems to amuse him. And is she tired? There is no sense of fatigue, certainly, in the way she runs up the slope again, and flings

Margaret Knollys, bending

rst is smilin

"-with a glance at the latter as he climb

u who do that,"

lton?" asks Mrs. Bethune,

given his playing with the girl at all, and a se

expected. Marian had expected to see her shy, confused; Tita, on the co

Mrs. Bethune, with as distinct a

ower

at games," sa

powers at tennis, he m

ame you are

me," says Gower, who la

ton, with some indignation. "'They laugh who win,' is

kers-on have their advantage ascribed to them by

n following him. "I won-we"-looking, with an honest de

," says Maurice, making her a lit

rgaret kindly. "I watched you a

like," says Tita, looking at he

all," says Mr. Woodleigh, his eyes

they want one so," says Tita. "And yet a horse-oh, I d

then?" says

; Lady Rylton watching, shudders. "I've been in the saddle all my life. Just before I came here I

er chin upo

pales with horror.

ve you good mounts,

ut. "Yes; I may ride, but that is all. I never see an

It is growing too dreadful.

you play?

ose shoes, they are terrible. If I knew any girls-I never do know them, as a rul

Maurice and the others, has been listening to Tita's stories of hu

was thirteen

t your age now, is

cousin was with us there, and he taught me. I rode a great deal before"-she pauses, and her lips quiver; she is evide

on of the-the uncle with whom you now live?" asks Sir Mauri

r's sister. She married a man in Birmingham-a suga

"I wish I had an uncle a sugar

t ever I saw, and his nose was little and turned up, but I loved him. I love him now, even when he is gone. And one does forget, you know! He sai

makes a sudd

n't you like to come and

"It is very late; you must forgive my staying so long, but

says Lady Ry

aining that I could not

charming," says Lady

the steps that lea

hould hear some of Unc

visibly in tow, and w

. Woodleigh presently, who has been dwell

ferently. "I despise a man who can't conquer a horse. I,

ur hands!" says

ays she. "My cousin, when he was ridin

lvet,

she fixes her eyes on his. She spreads her little hands abroad, brown as berries though they are with exposure to all sort

ty," smiles Rylton,

t occurs to him that she has

nothing pretty ab

lifts her eyes slowly to Rylton; it is an entirely inconsequent glance-a purely idle glance-and yet it suddenly occurs to Mrs. B

sed. Mrs. Bethune lays her hands upon his arm-

tea," says she in a whisper, her beautiful face upli

ns wit

tch at golf to-morrow!" Sir Maurice looks back. "Mr. Gow

in," says Mrs. Bethu

. We shall beat you in

a g

w vulgar she is!"