‘Well, my lass, it’s not too late,’ said the Squire, detaining her hand.

’Oh, but it wouldn’t be fair now.  And I’m not going to be kissed on the field, if you please, Squire.  Here, Dorry will do instead.  Dorry! come and be kissed by the Squire.’

It was Rose, living and glowing; Rose, who was the brilliant young Amazon, smoothing the neck of a mettlesome gray cob.  Evan’s heart bounded up to her, but his limbs were motionless.

The Squire caught her smaller companion in his arms, and sounded a kiss upon both her cheeks; then settled her in the saddle, and she went to answer some questions of the ladies.  She had the same lively eyes as Rose; quick saucy lips, red, and open for prattle.  Rolls of auburn hair fell down her back, for being a child she was allowed privileges.  To talk as her thoughts came, as well as to wear her hair as it grew, was a special privilege of this young person, on horseback or elsewhere.

’Now, I know what you want to ask me, Aunt Shorne.  Isn’t it about my Papa?  He’s not come, and he won’t be able to come for a week.—­Glad to be with Cousin Rosey?  I should think I am!  She’s the nicest girl I ever could suppose.  She isn’t a bit spoiled by Portugal; only browned; and she doesn’t care for that; no more do I. I rather like the sun when it doesn’t freckle you.  I can’t bear freckles, and I don’t believe in milk for them.  People who have them are such a figure.  Drummond Forth has them, but he’s a man, and it doesn’t matter for a man to have freckles.  How’s my uncle Mel?  Oh, he’s quite well.  I mean he has the gout in one of his fingers, and it’s swollen so, it’s just like a great fat fir cone!  He can’t write a bit, and rests his hand on a table.  He wants to have me made to write with my left hand as well as my right.  As if I was ever going to have the gout in one of my fingers!’

Sir George Lowton observed to Hamilton Jocelyn, that Melville must take to his tongue now.

‘I fancy he will,’ said Hamilton.  ’My father won’t give up his nominee; so I fancy he’ll try Fallow field.  Of course, we go in for the agricultural interest; but there’s a cantankerous old ruffian down here—­a brewer, or something—­he’s got half the votes at his bidding.  We shall see.’

‘Dorothy, my dear child, are you not tired?’ said Lady Racial.  ’You are very hot.’

’Yes, that’s because Rose would tear along the road to get here in time, after we had left those tiresome Copping people, where she had to make a call.  “What a slow little beast your pony is, Dorry!”—­she said that at least twenty times.’

‘Oh, you naughty puss!’ cried Rose.  ’Wasn’t it, “Rosey, Rosey, I’m sure we shall be too late, and shan’t see a thing:  do come along as hard as you can"?’

’I ‘m sure it was not,’ Miss Dorothy retorted, with the large eyes of innocence.  ’You said you wanted to see Nick Frim keeping the wicket, and Ferdinand Laxley bowl.  And, oh! you know something you said about Drummond Forth.’