"Ah, your voice is different. I should have known you were not Geoff if I had heard you speak. And now, of course, when one looks deliberately, there is a difference--a difference which would be more marked, I dare say, if Wornock were here. Are you a relation of Wornock's?" "I never heard the name of Wornock in my life until I heard it from you." "Well, I'm--dashed," cried the master, suppressing a stronger word as premature so early in the day. "Did you see the likeness, Champion?" asked the master, appealing to one of his satellites. "Of course I did," replied Captain Champion. "I was just as much under a delusion as you were--and yet--Mr. Carew's features are not the same as Wornock's--and his eyes are a different colour. It's the outlook, the expression, the character in the face that is so like our friend's--and I think that kind of likeness impresses one more than mere form and outline." "Hang me if I know anything about it, except that I took one man for the other," said the master, bluntly. "Well, Mr. Carew, I hope you will excuse my blunder, and that we may be able to show you some sport on your first day in our country. We'll draw Wellout's Wood, Hamper, and if we don't find there we'll go on to Holiday Hill." Hounds and servants went off merrily across the down, and dipped into a winding lane. A good many horsemen had ridden up by this time, with half a dozen ladies among them. Some skirmished across the fields, others crowded the lane, and in this latter contingent rode the master, with his hounds in front of him, and Carew at his side. "Are you staying in the neighbourhood?" he asked; "or did you come by rail this morning? A long ride from Matcham Road station, if you did." "I am staying at the Duke's Head, at Matcham; but I only arrived yesterday. I am going to settle in your neighbourhood." "Indeed! Have you bought a place?" "No." "Ah, going to rent one. Wiser, perhaps, till you see how you like this part of the country." "I have had a place left me by my uncle, Admiral Darnleigh." "What! are you Darnleigh's heir? Yes, by-the-by, I heard that Beechhurst was left to a Mr. Carew; but I've a bad memory for names. So you have got Beechhurst, have you? I congratulate you. A charming place, compact, snug, warm, and in perfect order. Stables a trifle small, perhaps, for a hunting man." "I am going to extend them," said Allan, with suppressed pride. "Then you are going to do the right thing, sir. The only part in which Beechhurst falls short of perfection is in the stables. Capital stables, as far as they go, but it isn't far enough for a man who wants to hunt five days a week, and accommodate his hunting friends. Besides, the owner of Beechhurst ought to be in a position to take the hounds at a push." "I hope it may be long before that push comes," said Allan.