They had been laughing and talking amicably--certainly more like friends, it would seem, than lovers, as gossip averred them to be; and with aching heart, and eager and admiring eyes, poor Jerry Wilmot--poor in more ways than one, for he was a ruined man now--observed the air and bearing of the handsome girl, in her dark blue riding habit--a costume so fitted for the display of every womanly grace--while from her slender waist she moved with every movement of her horse, the very action of which seemed to assert that he was proud of having such a rider. Still more was Jerry 'cut up' and then perplexed when, soon after, he met Mr. Chevenix, who, with a twinkle in his eye--whether of pride or mischief the said Jerry failed to detect--informed him, somewhat unnecessarily as he thought, that Lord Twiseldown had proposed to Bella. 'Proposed!' repeated Jerry, in a rather breathless voice. 'Yes.' 'And when does the--the marriage come off?' 'It won't come off at all.' 'Why?' 'She has refused him.' 'Refused him!' 'Yes; odd, isn't it? Can't make Bella out at all,' replied Mr. Chevenix, as he nodded, smiled, and trotted away on his cob. Jerry was, we say, perplexed on hearing of this. Bella's refusal of Twiseldown's hand delighted him greatly, but was it born of regard for himself or regard for someone else? He had not gone near her for some time past, and knew not how many might have been hovering about her, now that, with all her beauty and brilliance apart, she was known as the virtual heiress of Wilmothurst. It filled him with many thoughts that were difficult of arrangement and of analysis. He resolved to pay her a farewell visit anyway, and told his lady mother that he would do so. 'That girl again!' said Lady Julia, as he rode off. 'I did not think that he had actually involved himself with her.' 'Nor has he, perhaps, auntie,' sighed Cousin Emily, though her heart made her suspect otherwise. 'I believe Jerry to be, like many young men of the present day,' resumed Lady Julia, still obtuse as to the new situation, 'one of those who think they can--especially with a girl of her position in society--go to the utmost confines of love-making--can look, say, and do what they please, and yet do and say nothing that will quite compromise them, or involve their honour; and girls such as the Chevenix quite understand the matter. But that there should be more in it passes my comprehension, and yours too, darling Flossie,' she added, taking the cur out of its mother-of-pearl basket and kissing its nose tenderly. She spoke, as usual, languidly and softly, for she was ever one of those who deem that 'feeling, or any betrayal of it, is a sure sign of an ill-bred person'--bad form, in short. Meanwhile Jerry was _tête-à-tête_ with Bella Chevenix in her pretty little drawing-room overlooking the ivy-clad church and the village green.