"I had nothing to do with it. She asked me to choose her a hunter, and I chose her something good and safe, that's all. But I don't think you ought to object to her hunting, Leonard, or to her doing anything else that may help to keep her in good spirits. She was in a very bad way all the winter." "Do you mean that she was seriously ill? Their letters to me were so d----d short. I hardly know anything that went on while I was away." "Yes. She was very ill--given over to melancholy. It was only natural that she should be affected by Angus Hamleigh's death, when you remember what they had been to each other before you came home. A woman may break an engagement of that kind, and may be very happy in her union with another man, but she can't forget her first lover, if it were only because he _is_ the first. It was an unlucky thing your bringing him to Mount Royal. One of your impulsive follies." "Yes, one of my follies. So you say that Christabel was out of health and spirits all the winter." "Yes, she would see no one--not even me--or the Rector. No one but the doctor ever crossed the threshold. But surely Miss Bridgeman has told you all about it. Miss Bridgeman was devoted to her." "Miss Bridgeman is as close as the grave; and I am not going to demean myself by questioning her." "Well, there is no need to be unhappy about the past. Christabel is herself again, thank God--brighter, prettier than ever. That Swiss tour with Miss Bridgeman and the boy did her worlds of good. I thought you made a mistake in leaving her at Mount Royal after that melancholy event. You should have taken her with you." "Perhaps I ought to have done so," assented Leonard, thinking bitterly how very improbable it was that she would have consented to go with him. He tried to make the best of his position, painful as it was. He blustered and hectored as of old--gave his days to field sports--his evenings for the most part to billiards and tobacco. He drank more than he had been accustomed to drink, sat up late of nights. His nerves were not benefited by these latter habits. "Your hand is as shaky as an old woman's," exclaimed Jack, upon his opponent missing an easy cannon. "Why, you might have done that with a boot-jack. If you're not careful you'll be in for an attack of del. trem., and that will chaw you up in a very short time. A man of your stamina is the worst kind of subject for nervous diseases. We shall have you catching flies, and seeing imaginary snow-storms before long." Leonard received this friendly warning with a scornful laugh. "De Cazalet drinks more brandy in a day than I do in a week," he said. "Ah, but look at his advantages--brought up in Jersey, where cognac is duty-free. None of us have had his fine training. Wonderful constitution he must have--hand as steady as a rock. You saw him this morning knock off a particular acorn from the oak in the stable yard with a bullet."