The servant came out, Edgar was helped into the pony chair, on which rather pitiful process Mr Cunningham turned his back and walked away, discussing the morning news with his nephew; and presently they started off, Wyn leading the pony along the broad walk with Geraldine and Apollo frisking beside it. They turned down a shrubbery, stopping at intervals to admire the gold and silver pheasants, the doves and pigeons, and rare varieties of foreign poultry, which all had their separate establishments in what Geraldine called the Zoological Gardens. Wyn hunted them into sight, fed them, and discussed their growth, plumage, and general well-being; while Geraldine smothered the puppy in the carriage rug to keep him from frightening them with his barking and yapping. Then they came out into an open space, where the pea-hens had their nursery--several of the ordinary coloured sort, and one rarer white one, whose two little white chicks were watched with much anxiety; while, to Geraldine's delight, the great white peacock himself appeared with his wide tail, with its faintly marked eyes like shadows in the whiteness, spread in the sun. Then round towards the back of the farm-buildings, where, in a little square court, lived a yellow French fox, tied up with a long chain--a savage and unhappy little beast, which "might as well have been back in France for all the pleasure he gave himself or anyone else," as Geraldine said. "Who's to take him?" said Edgar. "He was funny when he was a little cub. Being tied up isn't soothing to the temper." A family of hedgehogs, fenced round into their own little domain, amused Geraldine mightily, as she watched the smallest curl himself up into a ball at the approach of Apollo, who thought him a delightful plaything till the prickles touched his tender tan nose, and he fled howling. There was no time to-day to visit all the varieties of poultry, and the horses were in another direction, and formed another object for Edgar's drives; for though he could never mount one of them, the love of horseflesh was in his nature, and he liked to have them led out for his inspection, and had always plenty to say about their condition and management. To-day the little party crossed over the open turf of the park to a large pond, where Edgar cultivated varieties of aquatic birds. He was very proud of the black swans and the beautiful Muscovy ducks, the teal and the widgeon, which he had induced to breed among the reeds, rushes, and tangled grass that clothed its banks. Geraldine stood at the pony's head, while Wyn plunged into the rushes, waded and scrambled till he had driven the little flock of tiny dark ducklings into his master's range of vision. Edgar was pleased; but his attention was less free than usual, and presently he said abruptly to Wyn: "So you've got a cousin come to stay with you?" "Yes, sir. Mother's got her to see what she's made of, and get her suited with a place."