"Why, to Devenholme, as we arranged last night," replied Olivia, with spirit. "He said he would drive me over; and _you_ said 'how sweet of him,' and beamed upon us both!" Lady Caroline winced. "You impertinent chit!" she cried viciously; "you know as well as I do that what I have told you alters everything. Once and for all, Olivia, I forbid you to drive into Devenholme with--with--with--that common man!" "Very well; the drive's off," said the girl with swift decision; and she left her mother without another word. She put on her habit and went straight to Jack. "Do you mind if we _ride_ into Devenholme instead of driving?" "Mind! I should like it even better." "Then suppose we go to the stable-yard and see about our horses ourselves; and while we are there, we may as well stay and start by the back road, which will save at least a quarter of a mile." "My oath," said Jack without further provocation, "you might have been dragged up in the bush!" "I wish I had been!" exclaimed Olivia bitterly. He could not understand her tone. Nor did he ever know the meaning of the momentary fighting glitter in the brave brown eyes of the girl. He rode as an inveterate bushman, entirely on the snaffle, with inelegantly short stirrups and a regrettable example of the back-block bend; nor did his well-broken hack give him a chance of exhibiting any of the finer qualities of the rough-riding school. But indeed for the most part the couple sat at ease in their saddles, while the horses dawdled with loose reins and lazy necks in the cool shadows of the roadside trees. By mutual consent they had dispensed with an attendant groom. And Olivia had never been so kind to Jack, as on this day when he was under so black a cloud, with so heavy a seal upon his lips.