Both statements were obvious untruths, but no doubt the damsel herself believed them. 'Have you a gown that covers your knees?' asked Aunt Betsy, severely. 'My new frock is awfully long. It only came from the dress-maker's last week.' 'Then you have hardly had time to grow out of it,' said Brian. 'Suppose we strain a point, Aunt Betsy, and take her. It will enable us to say, "we are seven."' 'We shall be a tremendous party,' said Miss Wendover. 'I hope Sir Vernon is a hospitable, easy-going man, and that your intimacy with him warrants such an intrusion.' 'I am taking him a cousin,' answered Brian, stealing an admiring glance at Ida; 'surely that ought to secure our welcome.' 'I hope his housekeeper has large ideas about luncheon,' said Bessie, 'or Blanche's appetite will throw her out in her calculations. If she is the sort of person who thinks a pair of ducklings and a dish of rissoles substantial fare for a large party, I pity her.' 'You're vastly witty,' said Blanche, preparing her final slice of bread and jam; 'one would think you lived upon roses and lilies, like the ascetics.' 'The poor child means aesthetes,' explained Bessie. 'Bother the pronunciation! But if people had seen you eating rabbit-pie on the barrow--why a wolf wouldn't have been in it,' concluded Blanche, who acquired her flowers of speech from the Wintonians. 'I'll go and despatch my telegram,' said Brian, taking up his hat. CHAPTER XVI. THICKER THAN WATER. The weather was altogether favourable for the thirty-mile drive. The wagonette with its scratch team and a couple of smart grooms, was at the Homestead gate at ten o'clock, and after picking up Miss Wendover and her companion, went on to The Knoll for Bessie and Blanche, and then to Dr. Rylance's for Urania, who had accepted the invitation most graciously. Kingthorpe was unwontedly excited by this gorgeous apparition, and the inhabitants remained at garden gates and cottage doors while so much as a horse's tail was visible. Everybody was pleased to see the young squire driving four-in-hand. It had been supposed that as a bookish young man, given over to Greek and Latin, he must needs be a poor hand with horses. But this morning's exhibition gave rise to more hopeful views. 'We shall see the squire setting up his coach, and settling down at the Abbey,' said one. 'Ay, when he gets married,' said another; 'that's what'll settle he. I believes as him is sweet on that young 'ooman at the Homestead. Her be a clipper, her be.'