"Oh, thanks, but give me spirit! None of your quiet mares for me. But I am at school; there's no chance for a free day for another three months. This is only the exeat; we go back to-morrow, worse luck!" "To-morrow! That's very soon. I'm glad I arranged the chase for to- day. You are at Horsham, aren't you?" Dreda turned her head quickly. "Yes! Who told you?" "Your sister. The young one--the one who is here to-day." "Oh, Maud! Did she come into the drawing-room with Rowena yesterday?" "Before then. She amused me after you left until Miss Saxon arrived." "Oh-h!" Dreda's face clouded uneasily. How had Maud amused him? What had she said? In what fashion had she managed to prejudice Rowena against so amiable and kindly a neighbour, for she had now not a moment's doubt that Maud was the cause of the trouble. She determined to put a few leading questions. "What else did she tell you? She's a dreadful child. We never know what she is going to say next. I don't believe she knows herself. What did she say?" "Oh, nothing particular! G-general information--don't you know--general information," stammered Guy Seton uncomfortably. But Dreda was not to be put off the scent. She stared at him fixedly, noted his rising colour, and nodded in quiet conviction. "I know! I can guess one thing at least. She told you we were _rejuiced_." "I--I--" he began to stammer again, but the corners of his mouth twitched, and the next moment they were laughing together in hearty, youthful enjoyment. "Too bad of you! Why are you so abnormally sharp? Have pity on my embarrassment," he pleaded, while Dreda shook her yellow mane in derision. "You are not embarrassed a bit! You laughed before I did! It's easy to guess, because that's Maud's favourite subject at present. She overheard the servants talking, and took a fancy to the word, and now she drags it in on every possible occasion. What else did she say? Anything about me?" "Er--er--" "She did! I know she did. Don't try to deny it. Was it--nice?" "Er--" stammered Guy Seton once more, whereupon Dreda drew herself up with sudden dignity. "You shouldn't have _allowed_ it! She is only a child; you should not have allowed her to talk personalities--" "But I tried to stop her--I did, indeed! I was most uncomfortable. I tried to change the conversation, but it was no good. Please don't scold me, I've suffered enough as it is!" "_How_ have you suffered?" Dreda's eyes widened eagerly. Now she was on the track of the mystery, and determined to push her inquiries until all was made plain. "_Who_ made you suffer?" "Miss Sax--," said Guy involuntarily, and then quickly drew himself up. "I mean--it's rather awkward for a fellow, don't you know, to listen to things that he ought not to hear--that are not his business--that would annoy other people if they happened to overhear."