"Gran keeps me up to it. She goes on praising you. You see I never told her about _that_, Leo, and she still thinks--you know what," and he nodded significantly. "This marriage has set her going again." After a pause it was: "You aren't making much of a dinner, Leo. You say 'no' to everything. What's put you off your feed?" "Too much afternoon-tea probably. No, it's not that," said Leo, correcting the fib. "I'm not hungry, that's all." "This venison is awfully good. Where did it come from? You generally do have venison about this time, I know. I have eaten it here before in October." "Have you?" "Where does it come from?"--reiterated he. "From an old cousin, Anthony Boldero. We have no one else who sends us venison." "Respects to him. His venison is A1. Leo?" "Well?" said Leo, in a hard, dry tone. She recognised what was coming. "It isn't me, it isn't anything I've been saying that bothers you?" But at the same moment Leo's neighbour on her other hand spoke to her. She was partly glad and partly sorry for this--glad because it relieved her from embarrassment, but sorry because it might be difficult, and indeed it proved impossible, to lead the erratic Val back to the same point thereafter. He had delivered himself of all he had to say on the matter, and he had a talkative damsel on the other side who having been already somewhat affronted by his neglect, was resolved to endure it no longer. The two were soon in full tide of conversation; and though Leo had her turn once and again when Miss Merivale was attacked by her other neighbour, she could not all in a brief moment resume a dialogue of such import as the above. She thought Val was approaching it once, however. "That's a fine dog of his--of Foster's." "Lion? Yes, a delightful dog." "It's awfully funny to see your father with him. When he can't make anything of Foster--he makes no end of a fuss with Foster--but it doesn't always exactly come off--then he panders to the dog. And, you know, they take it exactly in the same way! Lion gives him a bored look, and shakes himself. I think--he--he! his master would like to do the same." Leo could not but smile; she had noticed the bored look, and once or twice it was even a disgusted one--on Paul's face. She would willingly have caught at the opening, but a moment's hesitation proved fatal. Miss Merivale struck in again and the opportunity was lost. On the assembling of the ladies after dinner, Lady Butts fell to Leo's share. There was a greater lady present, Lady St. Emeraud, once before mentioned in these pages,--but this august personage, who had, as we know, kissed Leo on her marriage day, took no notice of Mrs. Stubbs on the present occasion. It was only at long intervals that she favoured Boldero Abbey with the light of her countenance, and being a connection of the Fosters, she had now come to see Maud and do the civil in view of the forthcoming alliance.