"Wrong, young lady. Had I cared for you less, I should not have lectured you. We don't get vexed with those we dislike. I should lecture you still, if I saw cause to do it." Georgina laughed. They were again pacing the terrace, for he had placed her arm in his. "I always believed in you, Georgina, though you did require so much keeping in order. You were as wild a young damsel as I ever wish to see. It is well your mood has changed." "I dare say you mean to say my manners." "Call it what you will. I like you best as you are. What's that, shooting up like a bonfire?" They paused and watched the appearance he spoke of: a flaming light in a distant field. "I know," cried Georgina. "Old Phipps is burning that dead tree of his. Sir Isaac told him this morning not to let it lie there across the path." "Were you there with Isaac this morning? So far off as that!" "He and I and Mrs. Carleton had walked there. He is a famous walker now." "A little bird whispered a tale to me about you, Georgina, as I came through London," he said, resuming their walk. "Shall I tell it?" "Tell it if you like. What is it?" "That you might, at no very distant time, be mistress of Hawkhurst. His lordship----" "What a wicked untruth," she burst forth, as impulsively as ever she had spoken in former days. "Who told it you? It was Sarah, I'm sure; and she knows I refused him." "I'm sure he is a well-meaning young man; easy, good-tempered, and very fond of you." "He is as stupid as an owl," returned Georgina, in her anger. "Oh--I see: you are only laughing at me." "Tell me why you would not have him. We used to tell each other mutual secrets in bygone days. Do you remember that real secret--that accident--when you nearly set the deanery on fire, by placing the lamp too close to the window-curtains, and I burnt my hands in putting the fire out, and then took down the curtains afterwards, to remove all traces of fire from them? I suppose the dean does not know the truth to this day." "Mamma does not; and that is a great deal more to the purpose. She still believes the curtains were mysteriously stolen. They were fortunately very beautiful." "Fortunately! But you have not told me why you dismissed Hawkhurst and his coronet." "I wouldn't have him if he had ten coronets. I wouldn't have any one." "Do you intend never to marry, Miss Georgina?" "Never, never. Papa and mamma have no one but me, and I shall not leave them." Her blushes were conspicuous even in the moonlight. But she raised her head, as if in defiance of the emotion, and looked straight out before her. "So you did see Sarah as you came through London! She has made a good marriage, has she not?" "Very good, in all senses of the word. She has rank, wealth; and her husband, for a Viscount, is really a superior man." "For a Viscount! What next? Is Sarah as beautiful as ever?" "Well--no. She was both thin and pale. She'll get up her looks again by-and-by, I dare say."