"I don't think it would be possible for any one to love Arden better than I. But then, of course, a man is always prouder than a woman--" "I am not so sure of that," the stranger muttered parenthetically. "--And papa felt the degradation involved in the loss." "I won't admit of any degradation in the case. A gentleman is none the less a gentleman for having spent his fortune rather recklessly, and the old blood is no less pure without the old acres. If your father were a wise man, he might be happier now than he has ever been. The loss of a great estate is the loss of a bundle of cares." "I daresay that is very good philosophy," Clarissa answered, smiling, beguiled from painful thoughts by the lightness of his tone; "but I doubt if it applies to all cases--not to papa's, certainly." "You were sketching, I see, when I interrupted you. I remember you told me that night of your fondness for art. May I see what you were doing?" "It is hardly worth showing you. I was only amusing myself, sketching at random--that ivy straggling along there, or anything that caught my eye." "But that sort of thing indicates so much. I see you have a masterly touch for so young an artist. I won't say anything hackneyed about so fair a one; for women are showing us nowadays that there are no regions of art closed against them. Well, it is a divine amusement, and a glorious profession." There was a little pause after this, during which Clarissa looked at her watch, and finding it nearly five o'clock, began to put up her pencils and drawing-book. "I did not think that you knew Lady Laura Armstrong," she said; and then blushed for the speech, remembering that, as she knew absolutely nothing about himself or his belongings, the circumstance of her ignorance on this one point was by no means surprising. "No; nor did I expect to meet you here," replied the gentleman. "And yet I might almost have done so, knowing that you lived at Arden. But, you see, it is so long since we met, and I----" "Had naturally forgotten me." "No, I had not forgotten you, Miss Lovel, nor would it have been natural for me to forget you. I am very glad to meet you again under such agreeable auspices. You are going to stay at the Castle a long time, I hope. I am booked for an indefinite visit." "O no, I don't suppose I shall stay very long. Lady Laura is extremely kind; but this is my first visit, and she must have many friends who have a greater claim upon her hospitality." "Hale Castle is a large place, and I am sure Lady Laura has always room for agreeable guests." "She is very, very kind. You have known her a long time, perhaps?" "Yes. I have been intimate with the Challoners ever since I was a boy. Lady Laura was always charming; but I think her marriage with Fred Armstrong--who worships the ground she walks on--and the possession of Hale Castle have made her absolutely perfect." "And you know her sister, Lady Geraldine, of course?" "O yes, I know Geraldine."