"I beg your pardon, uncle, I did not hear your approach. Good morning, Captain Fraser," she continued, turning to the visitor with a laugh, and holding out her hand. "I am not in general so easily alarmed; did you and uncle enter purposely on tiptoe?" The young officer cast upon the speaker a look of unmistakable admiration, which deepened the flush on her cheek, but he did not possess the tact with which to relieve the young lady and place her at her ease with a retort as playful as her own. Colonel Herbert was, however, more ready. "Well, upon my word, Mary, you must have a very vivid imagination to picture to yourself a stout old fellow like me tripping along the carpet on tiptoe;" and her uncle's merry laugh restored Mary's self-possession at once. "But now," he continued, "let me tell you the object which brought us here. Would you like to join us in a canter this morning in the Row? Captain Fraser and I have just been inspecting Daisy, she has quite recovered from the effects of her journey by train, and I have desired the groom to bring her round in half an hour; can you be ready?" "Oh yes, uncle, thank you, I shall be delighted, if aunt Helen approves." "Aunt Helen is here to speak for herself;" and Mrs Herbert entered the room as she thus announced her presence. "Of course I approve; go, darling, and dress quickly; an hour's ride will do you good after such a long practice." "Mary was not practising when we entered the room," said her uncle, "but lost in contemplation of our London landscape--quite a compliment to Hyde Park I consider it." "I am afraid I was making comparisons in my mind not very complimentary to the Park, uncle, but I shall enjoy my ride nevertheless." And the young girl ran gaily out of the room without waiting for a reply. During the time the gentlemen had been in the room Captain Fraser had not spoken; indeed, in reply to Mary he had only bowed a silent good morning. Now, however, he entered into conversation with Mrs. Herbert, showing that he could make himself in a certain sense agreeable as a companion. Mary had met him twice already during the few days she had been in Park Lane, but while the memory of a gentleman who could fascinate her with his conversation on intellectual and poetical subjects was still fresh, the style in which Captain Fraser made himself agreeable was not likely to attract Mary Armstrong. "I'm afraid--aw--we alarmed--aw--Miss Armstrong this morning," said the young man, pulling violently at his whiskers as he spoke. "My niece is not easily frightened, Captain Fraser." "No--aw--not exactly frightened, but startled I mean--aw--just for a minute, and she turned it off--aw--and laughed as she spoke in such a captivating manner that--aw--there was nothing left for a fellah to say." "But you should say something, and not allow young ladies to have it all their own way, Captain Fraser."