A Mental Struggle. 49
feven whilst enlightening Patricia as to the real cause of
her return.
"It was the luckiest thing my coming when 1 did," she
declares lightly, " else my death would h,.. e been laid at
the door of that old man. I have saved him from Jack
Ketch. But now that I have returned with all my limbs
intact, I think the county should make it a matter for
public rejoicing. Don't you think so, Imogen ? Suppose
we commence the county with Dick Bohun. He owes us
a dance by this time, I am sure."
" Poor old man ! We always seem to regard him as
a fairy godfather of some sort, only created to arrange
our pleasures," says Imogen with a smile and a little
shrug.
" An excellent pastime for him too," declares Sandie.
" Dear Mr. Bohun ! he was created for something better
than that, though it is a sweet character too ! " says Lady
Olivia tenderly, glancing up from her conversation with
Miss Brown.
" Get a horse, Sandie, and ride over with me to The
Grange," commands Sylvia, forgetful of the late skirmish,
in her new design. " If we find Mr. Bohun in the proper
humour, we shall get our dance with no trouble at all.
Papa shall give one afterwards, and "—with a little merry
laugh—" Sir Hugh after that again !"
She hardly perceives the little chill that follows on her
words. It is so natural to count upon The Chevies as a
place where a dance is to be had when desired—Sir Hugh
having kept open house for his neighbours until so lately,
that as yet no one has had time to notice the falling-off in
his hospitality—that now Miss Yelverton speaks of a ball
there as of a thing that will surely be forthcoming at tha
right moment.
" Will you really go to The Grange ! Why should we
notaZZgo?" asks Patricia eagerly. "It is quite the love¬
liest drive, and Miss Brown as yet has seen but little of
our country. Bo come, Imogen ! Let us have the ponies
round, and go a merry-making with Sylvia. It really is
the most charming diive," she concludes, turning her
bright face to Felix.
4
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