‘Oh, a general determination to be very obedient to you, and very respectful to my father, and very tolerant of Edgar’s stupidities, and all that kind of thing, don’t you know?’ ‘My darling, I can’t bear to hear you talk of Edgar like that. He is so thoroughly good.’ ‘Yes,’ sighed Daphne, with an air of resignation. ‘If there were only a little rift in his goodness, I should get on with him so much better. It is dreadful to have to deal with a man whose excellence is always putting one to shame.’ ‘I think you could be easily worthy of him.’ ‘No, I couldn’t. And if I could I wouldn’t. And now I must run away and dress, for I want to explore those hills across the river before breakfast.’ She looked bright and fresh and full of youthful energy an hour afterwards, when she went down to the sitting-room, where Edgar was loafing about wearily, longing for her to appear. Her neat tailor gown of darkest olive cashmere, and coquettish little olive-green toque, set off the pearly tints of her complexion and the brightness of her loosely-coiled hair. She came into the room buttoning a long Swedish glove, the turned-back sleeve showing the round white arm. ‘What a fetching get-up,’ said Edgar, who was apt to embellish his speech with those flowers of slang which are in everybody’s mouth; ‘but what is the use of those long gloves tucked away under the sleeve of your gown?’ ‘No use,’ answered Daphne; ‘but they’re fashionable. I want you to come and ramble on that hill over there before breakfast. Do you mind?’ ‘Mind!’ cried Edgar. ‘You know I am always delighted to walk with you. But, I say, Daphne, what was the matter with you last night? You were so cross.’ ‘I know I was; but I am never going to be cross again. I am going to turn over a new leaf. I have been wild and wilful, but I am not wilful now.’ ‘You are always the dearest and best of girls,’ answered Edgar fatuously. They passed Gerald Goring on the stairs. Daphne gave him a friendly nod, just the easiest salutation possible; but her cheek paled as she went by, and her reply to Edgar’s next observation was somewhat wide of the mark. He talked Baedeker to her as they went across the bridge; and he talked Baedeker about the watch-towers; and still again Baedeker when, in the course of their wanderings, they came to a chapel on a height, from whence there was a lovely view, exquisitely beautiful in the clear calm summer morning. They roamed about together till it was time to go back to the ten o’clock breakfast, by which hour Sir Vernon had resigned himself to the ordeal of facing his family.