"You must find it dull up the country, Miss Sellwood, after London," began Jack, not perhaps in his most natural manner. "I--I wish to goodness you'd tell us of anything we could do to amuse you!" "You are very good," replied Olivia, "but I don't require to be amused like a child. Thanks all the same. As to finding the country dull, I never appreciate it so much as after a season in town." She was not looking at the Duke, but beyond him into the hall. And encountering no other eyes there, her own grew softer, as did her tone, even as she spoke. "You know this old place off by heart, Miss Sellwood, I expect?" pursued Jack, who had taken off his straw hat in her presence, being in doubt as to whether the portico ranked indoors or out. "Oh, well, I have stayed here pretty often, you know," said Olivia. "What do you think of the place?" "I can't hardly say. I've never seen anything else like it. It's far too good, though, for a chap like me; it's all so grand." "I have _sometimes_ felt it a little too grand," the girl ventured to observe. "So have I!" cried Jack. "You can't think how glad I am to hear you say that. It's my own feeling right down to the ground!" "I don't mean to be rude," continued Olivia confidentially, seeing that they were still unobserved, "but I have often felt that I wouldn't care to live here altogether." "No?" said the Duke, in a new tone; he felt vaguely dashed, but his manner was rather one of apologetic sympathy. "No," she repeated; "shall you like it?" "Can't say. I haven't weakened on it yet, though it _is_ too fine and large for a fellow. Shall I tell you what I've done? I've fixed up a little place for myself outside, where I can go whenever I get full up of the homestead here. I wonder--if it isn't too much to ask--whether you would let me show you the little spot I mean?" "Where is it?" "In the pines yonder, on the far side o' the tank." "The tank!" "We call 'em tanks in Australia. I meant the lake. I could row you across, Miss Sellwood, in a minute, if only you'd let me!" And he met her doubtful look with one of frank, simple-hearted, irresistible entreaty. "Come on!" said Olivia suddenly; and as she went, she never looked behind; for she seemed to feel her mother's eyes upon her from an upper window, and the hot shame of their certain approval made her tingle from head to foot. So she trod the close, fine, sunlit grass as far as possible from her companion's side. And he, falling back a little, was enabled to watch her all the way.