‘Really, ma’am, I see no present occasion?’ said Hazel, with more truth than coolness.

‘She sees no occasion!’ cried Josephine.  ’Well, I shouldn’t either in her place.’ (Which was a clear statement that grapes were sour.) ‘Poor child!  Are you chained up for good, Hazel?’

‘Hush, Josephine?’ said her mother, who was a well-bred woman; such women can have such daughters now-a-days.  And she went on to invite Hazel to join a party that were going in the afternoon to visit a famous look-out height, called Beacon Hill.  She begged Hazel to come for luncheon, and the excursion afterwards.

‘Do say yes, please!’ said Captain Lancaster, turning from the other group.  ’You have said nothing but no for the last month.’

’Well, if being a negative means that one is not also a positive—­’ Hazel began.

‘And then, oh Miss Kennedy,’ broke in Molly Seaton, ’there’s this new Englishman!—­’

‘A new Englishman!—­’

‘Yes,’ said Molly, unconscious why the rest laughed, ’and he’s seen you at church.  And he has vowed he will not go home till he has seen you in the German.’

‘Has he?’ said Hazel.  ‘I hope he likes America.’

They gathered round her at that, in a breeze of laughter and entreaty, till her shy gravity gave way, and Mr. Rollo’s ears were saluted by such a musical laugh as he had not heard for many a day.

‘He’ll be here presently,’ said Molly.  ’He’s up in the mill with Kitty Fisher.  So you can ask him yourself, Miss Kennedy.’

Rollo heard, and purposely held himself a little back, and continued a conversation he did not attend to; he would not be more of a spoil-sport then he could help.

‘You’ll come, won’t you, Hazel?’ said Josephine.  ’I will be very good if you will come.’

Hazel balanced probabilities for one swift second.

’That is too large a promise, Phinny—­I would not make it.  But I will come, thank you, Mrs. Powder.  Only not to luncheon.  I will drive over this afternoon, and meet you at the hill.’

‘Why, here is our dear Duchess!’ cried Kitty Fisher, rushing up.  ’And where is the—­ahem!—­Mr. Rollo, I am delighted to see you.  Miss Kennedy, allow me to present Sir Henry Crafton.’

Wych Hazel bowed, and turning towards Mr. Rollo, remarked that if she was to come back, she must go.  Rollo was also invited to Beacon Hill, but excused himself; and he and Wych Hazel left the others, to go forward to find their horses.

On the ride home he made himself particularly pleasant; talking about matters which he contrived to present in very entertaining fashion; ignoring the people and the insinuations they had left behind them in the Hollow, and drawing Wych Hazel, so far as he could, into a free meeting of him on neutral ground.  They had another run through the lane; a good trot over the highway; and when they had entered the gate of Chickaree and were slowly mounting the hill, he spoke in another tone.