‘Madcap!’ he said; ’but I suppose the first day of the holidays must be privileged.  Ha!  Fitzjocelyn, you’re the right man in the right place, whatever Clara is.’

So they drove off, James sitting by Mrs. Ponsonby, and taking care to inform her that, in spite of her preposterous height, Clara was only sixteen, he began to ask anxious questions as to Fitzjocelyn’s recovery, while she looked up at the pair in front, and thought, from the appearance of things, that even Louis’s tongue was more than rivalled, for the newcomer seemed to say a sentence in the time he took in saying a word.  Poor Mrs. Ponsonby! she would not have been happier had she known in which pair of hands the reins were!

‘And Louis! how are you?’ cried Clara, as soon as this point had been gained; ‘are you able to walk?’

‘After a fashion.’

‘And does your ankle hurt you?’

’Only if I work it too hard.  One would think that lounging had become a virtue instead of a vice, to hear the way I am treated.’

‘You look—­’ began Clara.  ‘But oh, Louis!’ cried she, in a sort of hesitating wonder, ‘what! a moustache?’

‘Don’t say a word:’  he lowered his voice.  ’Riding is against orders, but I cannot miss the Yeomanry, under the present aspect of affairs.’

’The invasion!  A man in the train was talking of the war steamers, but Jem laughed.  Do you believe in it?’

’It is a time when a display of loyalty and national spirit may turn the scale.  I am resolved to let no trifle prevent me from doing my part,’ he said, colouring with enthusiasm.

‘You are quite right,’ cried Clara.  ’You ought to take your vassals, like a feudal chief!  I am sure the defence of one’s country ought to outweigh everything.’

’Exactly so.  Our volunteer forces are our strength and glory, and are a happy meeting of all classes in the common cause.  But say nothing, Clara, or granny will take alarm, and get an edict from Walby against me.’

‘Dear granny!  But I wish we were going home to the Terrace.’

‘Thank you.  How flattering!’

’You would be always in and out, and it would be so much more comfortable.  Is Lord Ormersfield at home?’

‘No, he will not come till legislation can bear London no longer.’

’Oh!’—­with a sound of great relief.

‘You don’t know how kind he has been,’ said Louis, eagerly.  ’You will find it out when you are in the house with him.’

Clara laughed, but sighed.  ’I think we should have had more fun at home.’

’What! than with me for your host?  Try what I can do.  Besides, you overlook Mary.’

‘But she has been at school!’

‘Well!’

‘I didn’t bargain for school-girls at home!’

‘I should not have classed Mary in that category.’

’Don’t ask me to endure any one who has been at school!  Oh, Louis! if you could only guess—­if you would only speak to Jem not to send me back to that place—­’