“And play the hypocrite all round!” “Yes, but only for a little while.” “Rather hard lines, when I have _not_ changed my mind. Is Rachel in the swindle?” “No--oh no!--no one but you and me and my husband, and a friend of his.” “And pray, when do you intend to discharge your little domestic bomb?” “When I go home. If I were to speak now, I should be turned out, probably on the hall door-steps, and the party would be broken up.” (Yes, and there were several good days’ deer-stalking still in prospect, thought Lord Tony, much as he was concerned at this recent astounding confidence.) “I know you are dreadfully vexed,” she said humbly; “but you will forgive me and stand by me, won’t you?” and she looked at him appealingly. She had really most lovely and expressive eyes; who could refuse them anything? “Meaning, that I am to neglect you openly, slight you on all occasions?” “There is a medium; you need not be _too_ marked in your defection, unless you like”--with a short, hysterical laugh. “I don’t _like_ the job at all; but I will lend you a hand, and be a party to the fraud. Whoever is your husband, Mrs. What’s-your-name, is a deuced lucky fellow!” “Then it is a bargain, that you keep my secret?” “Yes; here is my hand on it!” At this instant (it is constantly the way) Mr. West paused and looked behind, and was extremely pleased. He had intended to shout to this tardy pair to hurry on, for the carriages were waiting, the horses, of course, catching cold. However, he must make allowances, under the circumstances. Evidently Tony had come to the point again, and been accepted. He hastened down the road in great delight, hustled the company into various vehicles, and departed in the landau _vis-à-vis_ to Mrs. Leach (the wretched condition of her hair and complexion discounted many delightful recollections of her beauty); and he took care to leave the _dog-cart_ behind, for the sole use of the happy couple. CHAPTER XXI. AN INTERRUPTION. It was certainly strange that Lord Tony had not sought him out the evening after the picnic, said Mr. West to himself, considering that it was all settled now. Indeed, it struck him that his future son-in-law pointedly avoided him, and had lounged out of the smoking-room when he found himself with him alone. Of course, Lord Tony was aware that his consent was granted, but he would have liked him to have come to him at once. The next day, despite an effort to escape, Mr. West captured his reluctant quarry _en route_ to the stables, and said, as he overtook him, rather out of breath, “Well, my boy, I see you made it all right yesterday! Why have you not been to tell the old man--eh?” and he beamed upon him and poked him playfully with his cane. Lord Tony suddenly found himself in a very nice moral dilemma. Oh! here was a fix and no mistake! “There is nothing to tell yet, Mr. West,” he blurted out.