"Don't overdo it," he said. "If you are not in training, twenty miles is too much," and his eye rested admiringly on her figure, as the Sahib's had done only a fortnight before. He was thinking that if his aunt's horse were less fat, and her carriage less heavy, and the world constructed on different principles generally, he would like nothing better than to take this bright young girl for a good rattle across the county. "I think I am in pretty fair training, thank you. Can I show you anything this morning?" For Mona wished it to be understood that no young man was at liberty to drop into the shop for the sole purpose of gossip. He sighed. "What have you got that is in the least likely to be of the smallest use to me at any future period of my life?" he felt half inclined to say; but instead, he bought some pens--which he certainly did not want--and showed no sign of going. "My dear," called Rachel's anxious voice, "come here quick, will you? Sally has cut her finger to the bone!" "Allow me," said Dr Dudley, taking a neat little surgical case from his pocket. "That is more in my line than yours, I think," and he hastily left the room. "_Is_ it indeed!" said Mona saucily to herself, drawing the counterpart of his case from her own pocket. "Set you up!" She was about to follow him, "to hold the forceps," as she said, when the bell rang again, and two red-haired, showily-dressed girls entered the shop. They seemed surprised to see Mona there, and looked at her critically. "Some blue ribbon," said one of them languidly, with a comical affectation of _hauteur_. Mona laid the box on the counter, and they ran their eyes over the poor little store. "No, there is nothing there that will do." Mona bowed, and replaced the box on the shelf. "You don't mean to say that is all you've got! Why, it is not even fresh. Some of it is half faded." "Truly," said Mona quietly. "I suppose you will be able to get what you want elsewhere." "I told you it was no use, Matilda, in a place like this," said the elder of the two, looking contemptuously round the shop. "Pa will be driving us in to St Rules in a day or two. There are some decent shops there." "What is the use of that when I want it to-night? Just let me see the box again." She took up the least impossible roll of ribbon and regarded it critically. "You can't possibly take that, Matilda. Every shop-girl wears that shade." Matilda nudged her sister violently, and they both strove to prevent a giggle from getting the better of their dignity. Fortunately, when they looked at Mona, she seemed to be quite unconscious of this little by-play. The younger was the first to recover herself. "I will take two yards of that," she said, trying to make up for her momentary lapse by increased formality, and she threw half-a-sovereign on the counter, without inquiring the price.