Charles, Maurice, Gwyneth, and Sybil entered into a spirited game at bowls, while Victoria and Hilary paced up and down on the broad walk under the trees, partly observing the game, partly engrossed in conversation. Miss Fielding seemed particularly interested in the details of her companion’s daily life, about which she asked innumerable questions; she also admired Maurice very much and very openly to Hilary, who was as much pleased at this as she was amused and surprised at her companion’s entire ignorance of English habits and domestic life. “Yes, I know little enough about my father’s country,” replied Victoria, “but I want to understand it better; and I do not think my cousin’s house or customs are at all a rule for real Englishmen; he is, like myself, half German.” “I do not think he would be a bad specimen,” replied Hilary, “let his country be what it may, he is so very kind and considerate to every one about him.” “Charles! yes, he is a good sort of person,” said Victoria, smiling; “lets me have quite my own way here; has given me _carte-blanche_ to do as I please; a liberty I can not always expect, so I mean to make the most of it while it lasts.” “I dare say it will last,” observed Hilary. “Oh, I don’t know; you English wives are so very domesticated and subdued; you seem to me to give up all will and way of your own; one’s own identity is lost in the unity of the marriage state; one is merged into another’s being; and so becomes nobody, in fact as well as deed.” “Perhaps it may be better where such is the case,” said Hilary, “but it is not invariable.” “Well, I like to do things well,” said Victoria; “and when I _am_ an English wife I mean to behave as is expected of women of fortune and family. Upon the whole, I do not think it will be bad.” “You are going to marry, then?” said Hilary, a little hesitatingly, yet anxious for the answer. “I am to be married in the autumn,” replied Victoria; “meantime I intend to enjoy myself, and Charles lets me reign here _en princesse_. He certainly is good-nature itself with regard to me.” “He told me at first how anxious he was to make England pleasant to you,” observed Hilary, recollecting the wonder she had felt when he had mentioned it to her. “Now, I want to consult you,” continued Victoria, “about some of my plans.――Ha! well bowled, Mr. Duncan; do you see, your brother plays well; I think we will weave a crown for the victor, shall we, or at least give him a sprig of myrtle to stick in his coat as a trophy? Charles, you will be beat entirely. I wonder you do not exert yourself more for the sake of your partner.” “I suspect Miss Gwyneth rejoices more in her brother’s prowess than she would in mine,” replied Charles, pausing before he sent off his bowl, which had been driven by Maurice’s last stroke close to the edge where the ladies were standing. “My defeat excites no sympathy, and my victory would raise no exultation, so long as one of the family lost by what I gained.”