"I say, how is it you are not dining at home this evening?" asked Henry, who somehow did not regard the Dares with any great favour. "I dined in the middle of the day," was Herbert's reply. "The condescension! I thought only plebeians did that. James, is there a piece of chalk in the house? I must chalk that up." "Henry! Henry!" reproved Mrs. Ashley. "Oh, let him talk, Mrs. Ashley," said Herbert, with supreme good humour. "There's nothing he likes so well as a wordy war." "Nothing in the world," acquiesced Henry. "Especially with Herbert Dare." CHAPTER XXIII. ATTERLY'S FIELD. Laughing, talking, playing at proverbs, earning and paying forfeits, it was a merry group in Mrs. Ashley's drawing-room. That lady herself was not joining in the merriment. She sat apart at a small table, some work in her hand, speaking a word now and then, and smiling to herself in echo to some unusual burst of laughter. It was so surprising that only five voices could make so much noise. They were sitting in a circle; Mary Ashley between William Halliburton and Herbert Dare, Anna Lynn between Herbert Dare and Henry Ashley, Henry and William side by side. Time, in these happy moments, passes rapidly. In due course, the hands of the French clock on the mantel-piece pointed to half-past eight, and its silver tones rang out the chimes. They were at the end of the game, and just settling themselves to commence another. The half-hour aroused William, and he glanced towards the clock. "Half-past eight! who would have thought it? I had no idea it was so late. I must leave you just for half an hour," he added, rising. "Leave for what?" cried Henry Ashley. "To go as far as East's. I will not remain there." Henry broke into a "wordy war," as Herbert Dare had called it earlier in the evening. William smiled, and overruled him in his quiet way. "They have my promise to go round this evening," he said. "I gave it them unconditionally, and must just go round to tell them I cannot come--if that's not a contradiction. Don't look so cross, Henry." "Of course, you don't mean to come back," resentfully spoke Henry. "When you get there, you'll stop there." "No; I have told you I will not. But if I let them expect me all the evening, they will be looking and waiting, and do no good." He went out as he spoke, and left the house. As he reached the gate Mr. Ashley was coming in. Mr. Ashley had been in the manufactory; he did not often go there after tea. "Going already, William?" Mr. Ashley exclaimed in accents of surprise. "Not for long, sir. I must just look in at East's." "Is that scheme likely to prosper? Can you keep the men?" "Yes, indeed, I think so. My hopes are strong."