"You believe!" exclaimed Vixen. "Surely you have read some of Lady Mabel's poetry, or heard it read. She must have read some of her verses to you."
"Never. She is too reserved, and I am too candid. It would be a dangerous experiment. I should inevitably say something rude. Mabel adores Shelley and Browning; she reads Greek, too. Her poetry is sure to be unintelligible, and I should expose my obtuseness of intellect. I couldn't even look as if I understood it."
"If I were Lady Mabel, I think under such circumstances I should leave off writing poetry."
"That would be quite absurd. Mabel has a hundred tastes which I do not share with her. She is devoted to her garden and hot-houses. I hardly know one flower from another, except the forest wildlings. She detests horses and dogs. I am never happier than when among them. She reads Æschylus as glibly as I can read a French newspaper. But she will make an admirable mistress for Briarwood. She has just that tranquil superiority which becomes the ruler of a large estate. You will see what cottages and schools we shall build. There will not be a weed in our allotment gardens, and our farm-labourers will get all the prizes at cottage flower-shows."
"Naturally; don't you know that I am to have the hounds next year? It was all arranged a few days ago. Poor Mabel was strongly opposed to the plan. She thought it was the first stage on the road to ruin; but I think I convinced her that it was the natural thing for the owner of Briarwood; and the Duke was warmly in favour of it."
"The dear old kennels!" said Vixen, "I have never seen them since--since I came home. I ride by the gate very often, but I have never had the courage to go inside. The hounds wouldn't know me now."
"You must renew your friendship with them. You will hunt, of course, next year?"
"Oh, nonsense; I hear that Captain Winstanley is a mighty Nimrod--quite a Leicestershire man. He will wish you to hunt."
"What can Captain Winstanley have to do with it?" asked Vixen, turning sharply upon him.
"A great deal, I should imagine, by next season."
"I haven't the least idea what you mean."
It was Roderick Vawdrey's turn to look astonished. He looked both surprised and angry.
"How fond young ladies are of making mysteries about these things," he exclaimed impatiently; "I suppose they think it enhances their importance. Have I made a mistake? Have my informants misled me? Is your engagement to Captain Winstanley not to be talked about yet--only an understood thing among your own particular friends? Let me at least be allowed the privilege of intimate friendship. Let me be among the first to congratulate you."