“Oh, you would like to know?” he said, opening his eyes wide, with a laugh. “Perhaps if I were to tell you, you would never speak to me any more.” “I am not that kind,” said Marion. “I would always speak to you, whatever you did--if you were sorry.” “Ah! but the chief thing in me is that I am not a bit sorry,” said Eddy.--“Are you going back already you two? You go off like a hunter, Rose, never minding who toils after you. Miss Rowland and I are going further on.” “There is a beautiful view up there,” said Rosamond, pointing to the west, “if you cared about views, and the mountains are beautiful in that direction, but as you never would look at a landscape in your life----” “Not when I had mettle more attractive,” said Eddy, with a look at Marion, and then he laughed out, “When I can combine both, I like it very much.” “Mary, it is perhaps going to rain. I would not advise you to go very far,” said Archie, who was more susceptible than his sister to the light compliment and the laughter. But Marion stood her ground. “Since we came to Rosmore,” she said, “it has always been going to rain, and we can shelter under the trees, and it does no harm. I have promised to Mr. Saumarez to show him Ben Ros before we go in.” “I am very anxious to make the acquaintance of Ben Ros,” said Eddy with a laugh. “_Au revoir_, you people who have accomplished that part already. I don’t suppose you are deeply attached to Ben Ros--what do you call him--are you? But it is always a good excuse for a walk--and a talk.” “You never call me by my name,” said Marion; “you say just _you_, as if I were not a person at all.” “Because you would be angry if I called you by your name.” “Me, angry! Why I am just Miss Rowland to everybody, servants and all.” “I suppose you don’t rank me with the servants? I shall say Marion or nothing--and of course you would not allow me--or May, that is your name too, and the prettiest of all.” “May is short for Marion,” she said with a blush. “And I’m to call you so? Then I shall do nothing but call you by it. May, May--it is the prettiest name in the world.” Thus there came into conjunction another two who were not Mr. Rowland’s two, nor perhaps a two who were very desirable companions for each other, yet who suited each other, as Mr. Edward Saumarez eloquently expressed it, down to the ground. CHAPTER XXIV.