“Go, of course,” he said--“the very thing for me, they say. And I’m not going to shirk either; see some sport probably out there.” “And Charlie?” said Lady Jane. There was no apparent connection between her previous argument and this question, yet the very distinct staccato manner in which she said these words called the attention. Sir Charles, still standing by the window with his back to Lady Jane, once more muttered, “By Jove!” under his breath, or under his moustache, which came to the same thing. “Oh, Charlie! He’ll exchange, I suppose, and get out of it; too great a swell for India, he is. And how could he live out of reach of Pall Mall?” “Well, I hope you’ll soon be able to move, my dear boy; if the weather keeps mild and the rain goes off you had better come up to Steephill for a few days to get up your strength.” “Thanks, awf’lly,” said Captain Scott. “I will with pleasure; and Cousin Jane, if that little prim one should be there----” “She shan’t, not for you, my young man, you have other things to think of. As for Charlie, I shall say no more to him; he can come too if he likes, but not unless he likes. Send me a line to let me know.” Sir Charles accompanied the visitor solemnly downstairs, but without saying anything until they reached the door, where to his surprise no carriage was waiting. “Don’t mean to say you walked--day like this?” he cried. “No; but the horses and the men are more used to take care of themselves; they are to meet me at the Rectory. I am going there about this ridiculous bazaar. You can walk with me, if you like,” she said. He seized a cap from the stand and lounged out after her into the rain. “I say--don’t you know?” he said, but paused there and added no more. “Get it out,” said Lady Jane. After a while, as he walked along by her side, his hands deep in his pockets, the rain soaking pleasantly into his thick tweed coat, he resumed: “Unexpected serious sort of jaw that, before little beggar like Algy--laughs at everything.” “There was no chance of speaking to you alone,” said Lady Jane almost apologetically. “Suppose not. Don’t say see my way to it. Don’t deny, though--reason in it.” “And inclination, eh? not much of one without the other, if I am any judge.” “First-rate judge, by Jove!” Sir Charles said.