Belles and Ringers

f, you will ever count plenty of admirers among them. In the drawing-room at Todborough that evening the victor of the afternoon was quite the hero of the occasion; but we may be su

ne whom, with all her prejudice, she could not but admit was a most attractive girl; and she reflected that young men at times discover that the little-thought-of playmates of their childhood have grown up wondrous fair to look upon. Blanche's curiosity, too, was also much exercised on this su

the ladies had retired, the race was again di

Bridge, and keep on matching you at the Orleans Club, Hurlingham, and in the vicinity of the metropolis generally. There is only one thing puzzles me: while we were all talki

had been most deliberately planned by the young lady, though not perhaps intended to have been played had Jim Bloxam proved successful; but he called to mind the dexterity wit

upon to run. If I had, I should have protested strongly; but it was too late wh

h better judge of your capabilities than you are yourself; thou

as out in North America after the big game I could hold my own with any of the Indian hunters of our party; but I never contended against any amateur runners at home here. I should think, Bloxam, y

rned Jim; "but I should back you all th

ing a bottle of seltzer-water, "now I am down here I must see Trotbury Ca

as can will ride, and the remainder must travel on wheels. We will have every available horse out of the stables to-morrow, go over to Trotbury, lunch at "The S

dear Bloxam, I didn't quite mean that. Lady Mary has very likely made other arrangeme

mother will be only too glad to hear th

her great charm as a hostess. She is always anxious that her guests should amuse themselves after their

-room candle. Jim had a shrewd idea that Mr. Cottrell at t

bed. After dancing all last night and running races this af

lf, "I will!" he seated himself at the writing-table, rapidly penned a short note, addressed it, and then sought his pillow in the tranquil frame of mind that befits a man who has planned a ple

ed, "inquire quietly. Take it at once; there is no an

imself amounted almost to an insult. A very paragon of valets was Smithson-could be relied on to be mute as a fish conc

have been quite justified in themselves proposing to do so on hearing such an expedition was in contemplation; but no, neither from Blanche nor Jim came a hint of such being the case; and then Lady Mary expressed most unqualified approval of the idea. It was settled that they should start punctually at twelve; and as Mr. Cottrell had not as yet mad

leaves his hack at our disposal. I thought if we gave that to Sartoris, Beauchamp and myself can take the hunters, Blanche has her own horse, and the rest of you can go

ear Jim, that will all

nk I shall go myself; a

f my way o

;" and with that observation Jim left his mother o

t that grieved her; or whether it was the last atrocity in crime that made her flesh creep and so disquieted her, it was impossible to say; but that Lady Mary fidgeted considerably over her journal was a fact past dispute. A looker-on, had there been one, would have noticed that her eye frequen

s she advanced with outstretched hand to greet him. "But it was too b

y usual habits; but you know also that I break them without hesitatio

k, never submitted to the faintest interference with what he termed his natural hours. "You are in my confidence," she continued, "and have seen how circumsta

slowly, "a Miss Chipchase turning up

istance-in fact, since they amalgamated with our party at that dreadful ball, impossible. Tell me, what do you thi

a bishop if she sat next to him at dinner. And as for men going wild about her, we had two or three very pretty women a

rls of that sort," said Lady Mary, with no little asp

expression of such utter ignorance of her meaning in h

eauchamp, of course,"

ied Cottrell. "I never saw him

you think a

ople brought up together don't often fall in love; seeing too much of each other is probably an excel

che. At all events, we are out of the Chipchase girls for to-day." And, so saying, she rose

lacency that Blanche was looking her best and brightest in one of Creed's masterpieces. Ji

s. You must put off further satisfying of your hunger until we arrive at 'The S

ll; and Mr. Cottrell emerged from the dining-room just in time to see Jim open the hall door to Laura Chip

ul artist; and as for Lady Mary, her heart sank within her as the convictio

ance inspired you to turn up all ready for riding? We are just off t

e this morning; so she and I came over to see if any of you are in the sam

licity; but whether Jim or Blanche was the traitor she could not determine. Could she but have peeped over Sylla Chipchase'

d it me. We are all going over to-morrow to lunch at Trotbury; some on horseback, and some upon wheels. You should join the riding party

merry laugh. "What a dear, clever, mischievous old man he is!" she muttered. "Of course he means that I am to join that riding party and make Lady Mary a little uncomfortable. Well, she really does deserve it.

y. Then it was agreed they might as well look in at the Grange on the way, to see if they could persuade any of the party there to join them in such an exped

on wheels sparing the latter the indignity of the "break"-the remainder were of course upon horseback; and as Lady Mary looked after them, admiring the f

Miss Bloxam, and up to a stone or two more than

tinued. leaning forward to pat the glossy neck of her black favourite, "would probably tell you he found me quite enough on his

inquired

lark home. There is a lovely piece of galloping ground over Tapton Downs, and a

trongly such a saving of distance on our homeward journey. T

accustomed to papa's weight, carry

nch at "The Sweet Waters;" fortified with which they could then proceed to do th

e description, and they flounder about in most comical manner. The last time I was here they showed me the tomb of St. Gengulphus, with an effigy of that eminent clergyman-considerably damaged about the nose-in stone, on the top. I

iding party, and so I have had no opportunity as yet of rebuking you for your forgetfulness: y

ch rebuke on the subject. I quite remembered your message to Mrs. Wr

quired Blanche, with no little curiosity;

stay with her as soon as the Easter holid

quite certain that her mother disliked Sylla Chipchase, and was conscious of being not quite in accord with that young lady herself.

e for the temporary absence of the ladies, which was, as Miss Sylla informed him, a mere pandering to the coarser instincts of his nature, whatever he might choose to call it. With the exception of Mr. Sartoris, it may be doubted whether any of the party paid much attention

g displayed on the whole, perhaps, no more want of veneration than is usually shown by such sightseers, an

his morning, Mr. Cottrell?" inquired Sylla Chipchase,

e spoke; "and what is more, if my ears do not deceive me, we shall carry back to the Grang

hat?" inqu

w about to make your début in the London world? You must know, then, that you

the cause of their quarrel? I am su

quaintance, and most of the women; but when you come to ladies in society, ther

t fifteen years younger than Lady Mary. She was not only married, b

you will find as you grow older. I can only repeat what I hav

said Sylla in her

uick enough, and can afford to trust to your own

n hour. The conversation became general around the tea-table, and Jim Bloxam was suddenly

ds; and there are others amongst us who have figured with more or less success. It would be sinful to waste so much dramatic talent; don't you think so, Blanche? W

rus of assent from all

t venture upo

to your father, and she hopes you will all come up in the evening for charades and an impromptu valse or two

as she gathered up her habit, "le

f, sister mine. It's a lov