"What sort are they?" she inquired with immediate interest. "You see my father has made me quite a connoisseur; I am away up in dog-knowledge." She held up a little plump hand to show how high her attainments soared. "Are they pointers, setters or droppers?" Reynolds laughed. Her outright earnestness of interest in such a subject amused him, whilst it also made him feel justified in pursuing the theme, always a pleasant one to a genuine sportsman. "One is a pointer, the other a setter," he answered. "And do they work well together? Do they understand each other's movements, back each other, and all that?" she inquired. "In the most perfect way imaginable. They are like perfectly drilled soldiers, their minds seem to keep pace exactly." "Oh, isn't it the most beautiful sight! I know it must be. My father has described it to me so often and I am so anxious to see something of it. I don't know why I shouldn't, do you? Mamma rather objects--talks of cruelty to birds, and sneers in her sweet way, at the idea of a young lady caring for field sports. Do you see any wrong in it? I really think I should like to have a gun." "When I was in India I saw a young lady shoot at a tiger," said Reynolds, "but she missed it." "And ever since you have kept the incident in mind as proof positive of the modern woman's inefficiency in the field of Diana," she quickly replied. "Not altogether," he said; "Diana's field was so broad." But Miss Noble was not scholar enough to feel the point of his meaning. She was ready enough, however, and responded: "Oh, yes, the whole blue heaven to sail across; I had forgotten that her glory, after all, was mostly moonshine." "We poor men have been unable to forget it since the dreadful fate of Acteon and the drowsy experience of Endymion; but if you will promise not to turn the weapon against me I shall be glad to let you try a beautiful little English twenty-gauge gun of mine when we find the game." "How good of you," she exclaimed delightedly; "it will be charming. Don't tell mamma, she would ridicule me out of it." "Never; I shall die with the secret, if need be. I would not miss seeing you fire your first shot for any thing." "Now there," she exclaimed, "you can't quite be fair; there was something in your voice that suggested a lack of confidence in my nerve and ability, I shan't shut my eyes and dodge and--and--squeak." "Of course not," said Reynolds, "I shall expect nothing of the kind. You will kill your bird handsomely, and I shall applaud you and give you _encore_ and----" "If you are going to make fun of me, I shall stay at home," she exclaimed with spirit. "I'm in earnest. I really wish to know how to shoot."