this was going on, Larry walked his favourite mare “Bicycle” on to the ground, dressed with the utmost care, but looking very moody, almost fierce, as though he did not wish anybody to speak to him.  Tony Tuppett, who had known him since a boy, nodded at him affectionately, and said how glad he was to see him;—­but even this was displeasing to Larry.  He did not see the girls on the bridge, but took up his place near them.  He was thinking so much of his own unhappiness and of what he believed others would say of him, that he saw almost nothing.  There he sat on his mare, carrying out the purpose to which he had been led by Mary’s message, but wishing with all his heart that he was back again, hidden within his own house at the other side of the wood.

Mary, as soon as she saw him, blushed up to her eyes, then turning round looked with wistful eyes into the face of the man she was engaged to marry, and with rapid step walked across the bridge up to the side of Larry’s horse, and spoke to him with her sweet low voice.  “Larry,” she said.  He turned round to her very quickly, showing how much he was startled.  Then she put up her hand to him, and of course he took it.  “Larry, I am so glad to see you.  Did papa give you a message?”

“Yes, Miss Masters.  He told me, I know it all.”

“Say a kind word to me, Larry.”

“I—­I—­I—­You know very well what’s in my mind.  Though it were to kill me, I should wish you well”

“I hope you’ll have a good hunt, Larry.”  Then she retired back to the bridge and again looked to her lover to know whether he would approve.  There were so few there, and Larry had been so far apart from the others, that she was sure no one had heard the few words which had passed between them; nor could anyone have observed what she had done, unless it were old Nupper, or Mr. Runciman, or Tony Tuppett.  But yet she thought that it perhaps was bold, and that he would be angry.  But he came up to her, and placing himself between her and Kate, whispered into her ear, “Bravely done, my girl.  After a little I will try to be as brave, but I could never do it as well.”  Larry in the meantime had moved his mare away, and before the Master had arrived, was walking slowly up his own road to Chowton Farm.

The Captain was soon there, and Lord Rufford with his friends, and Harry Stubbings’ string, and Tony were set in motion.  But before they stirred there was a consultation, to which Bean the gamekeeper was called,—­as to the safety of Dillsborough Wood.  Dillsborough Wood had not been drawn yet since Scrobby’s poison had taken effect on the old fox, and there were some few who affected to think that there still might be danger.  Among these was the Master himself, who asked Fred Botsey with a sneer whether he thought that such hounds as those were to be picked up at every corner.  But Bean again offered to eat any herring that might be there, poison included, and Lord Rufford laughed at the danger.