‘That is lucid.  You said saddle horses—­Ah! what’s this?’

It was a little combination of brisk sounds in the hall, followed by the entrance of Rollo himself in a gray fisherman’s dress.  Unless he was very hard to suit he might have enjoyed the picture now opened before him.  The pretty room, with its garden outlook; the breakfast table, bright and quaint together, with its old-time furnishings; and flowers everywhere, arranged and un-arranged.  As he came in, Wych Hazel had just (quite surreptitiously) hung a garland of pansies on the high carved peak of Mr. Falkirk’s chair, and then dropped into her own place; with a De Rohan rose in the belt of her gray dress.  Not in the least like Roll’s gray, but white with the edge taken off, like a pale cloud.

‘So!’ she said, looking up at him as he stood beside her,—­ ‘have you come to confess?’

’Not this time.  I have come to ask if I may catch some of your trout—­if I can.’

’Not this time!  If you wait for another the score will be heavier.’

‘May I have your trout?’

’Really, if they give their consent I will.  Good morning, Mr. Rollo!—­will you sit down and let me give you some coffee?’

’As I came for that too, I will, thank you.  Will you lend me Vixen to-day?’

‘Why yes—­as I am going fishing myself, and so cannot use her,’ said Miss Hazel, giving critical attention to cream and sugar.  ‘But it is very good of me—­after the way you have behaved.’

’It is very good of you.  Is that thing all you have got to ride, except the respectable cob?’

‘Half broken, isn’t she?’ asked Mr. Falkirk.

‘Half—­hardly.  She shies wickedly.’

’I am glad Hazel hears you.  I hope she will not mount her again after that.’

Rollo’s eyes came over to Wych Hazel’s with an expression she could not quite read.  It was not petitioning; it might be a little inquisitive.  But she chose rather to answer Mr. Falkirk.

’I needed no help to find out that she shied, sir.  Then I have a little sympathy with that particular species of what Mr. Rollo is pleased to call “wickedness.” ’

‘It is very unfair, of course,’ said Rollo, ’to speak of an action from its results—­but we all do it.  Now a horse’s shying may break your neck.  It is true a lady’s shying may break your heart; but that don’t count.’

‘We are just talking about horses, Rollo.  I want your help.’

‘I will give it with promptness—­if Miss Kennedy command me.’

’Mr. Rollo’s innocent way of talking about commands would deceive anybody but me,’ said Wych Hazel.  ’But I am learning to know him by slow and painful degrees.’

The only answer to this was a mischievous smile, which did not embolden further charges.  But whether boldly or not, Hazel went on with a fair show at least of bravery.

‘What was that I was told so impressively yesterday?’ she said. ’ “There are circumstances where fear is highly commendable in a woman, when it is yet not desirable in a man.”  And after all that, did you not speed away like a very poltroon, and leave me to face everything by myself?  Confess, Mr. Rollo!’ The demure eyes were brimming with fun.