"Ha, Syl!" he said, jumping up, "so there you are. Glad to see you." "I'm uncommonly glad to see you," said Sylvester, grasping his hand. "I began to think you were never coming home any more, but were permanently given over to tigers and elephants. Did you like India?" "No," said Lucian, "the big game is the only thing worth going there for. I've had a shot, I believe, at everything there is there to shoot at I know all the tracks of them, but so do so many other men. Now I think of trying bears in the Rockies for a change; and I should like to go north--an arctic expedition would be rather jolly." "You want to add a polar bear's hide to all the tiger skins you have sent home to adorn the hall at Toppings, before you settle down to pot your own partridges." "Yes," said Lucian. "But what does Mrs Leigh say to that?" "She doesn't like it. She wants me to go to London now, and, as she calls it, `keep up our old connection,' and then keep open house at Toppings in the autumn, have shoots, and so on. I have been there with her now, you know, for two months." "And you don't see it?" "No, not yet. I must, of course, finally. But Evans is a very good agent, and the Rectory people look after the tenants. I subscribe properly to everything,--schools, and hunt, and county show, and so on; but I'm not going to live there now. Why should I?" "Well, you might see a little more of the world first, certainly." "In two years' time Miss Carisbrooke comes of age, and the lease of this house will be up. The mother will have to make a new start somewhere then, and it will be time for Kate, at any rate, to come out. That ought to be in our own neighbourhood, so I must be in England then." "Does Miss Carisbrooke mean to live here?" "I believe so. My mother had her to stay here, and liked her, before I came home. You might try your luck, Syl, she's a catch. Her only relation is a youngish uncle, her guardian. I believe he lives abroad a good deal." Lucian paused, then said-- "She has been living for the last year with that old Miss Haredale, who lost her money. She chaperons Miss Carisbrooke, and is to bring her out, I believe, in London this year." There was a little silence. Perhaps it had been from a kind of embarrassment that Lucian had at once rained facts upon Sylvester, and put him in possession of his intentions. Now he said-- "Don't let the mother set you on to bully me about staying at home. I always meant to have a shot at a white bear some time--except once, for about three months.--And that's quite over, for good and all. I've no more concern with it. So I must do something else, you know; and I like sport, and seeing new places." Lucian paused again, and Sylvester looked at him keenly, hardly knowing what to say in answer.