‘Well, sir, you shall name the hour.’

’Name it yourself; but be home by half-past eleven.  Miss Hazel, I wish, till you have your own horses, you would not go to such places.’

There was a shade of disappointment in her face, but she answered steadily—­

‘I will not go, sir, if that is really your wish.’

’My dear, we must meet the enemy.  In the progress of ladies seeking their fortune that is always understood.  What next?’

She hesitated a moment, carefully dressing the petals of a carnation in her hand.

’The third item, sir, is—­that if to-morrow afternoon I—­will consent to put—­my little foot,’ said Miss Hazel, evidently mastering a laugh, ’inside the right phaeton—­Mr. May will consent to drive.’

‘Mr. May!  Confound his impudence!’ was the by no means doubtful utterance of Miss Hazel’s guardian.

Hazel bit her lips and sat demurely waiting further developments.

‘Chickaree is in a very exposed situation, Miss Hazel!’ Mr. Falkirk remarked, with something a little like a sigh.  While, as if to give effect to his words, two well-mounted horsemen at that moment went up the hill, exchanging greetings with the occupants of a landau that was just then making the descent.  Wych Hazel looked and laughed.

‘It is very comical!’ she said.  But her guardian was silent.  He knew the Enchanted ground had to be met and passed.  Perhaps he wished it were well over; but I think the present feeling of discontent relieved itself not even so far.

‘And on the whole your three answers are, sir?—­’ said Hazel, after a pause.

‘In your head,’ Mr. Falkirk growled.  ‘You know what they are.’

‘My dear sir! one would think they were in your foot!’ But then she was silent, and then she began to sing.  One thing and another, after her own fitful fashion, in the twilight; and business did not come up again.  Only as she went to sleep that night, Miss Kennedy indulged in one profound reflection.

‘No,’ she said to herself, ’Dr. Maryland was right:  Primrose would never do.  Get her in a corner, and the most she can say is, “Duke knows.” ’

So drew on the night of Mrs. Merrick’s party; and meantime a rainy day or two saved Mr. Falkirk some trouble, and left the cottage in comparative quiet.  But as the night drew near, the clouds cleared away and the sun shone out, and fairer weather could not have been wished for, or wished away.

There had been a running fire of errands and messages between the cottage and the house on the hill, all day.  Miss Kennedy was constantly finding out something more that she wanted for the evening, and Dingee went back and forth with notes to Mrs. Bywank and waterproof-covered baskets in return, till Gotham at least lost patience.

’More duds for Miss ‘Azel!’ he said in displeasure, as Dingee appeared just at nightfall with a final basket.  ’It’s clean ridikerlous!  One dress at a time ought to content any young lady.’