Antony sat next me at dinner, at one side; on the other was old Sir Samuel Wakely. Mr. Dodd on his left hand had Miss Springle, the playful, giddy daughter of one of the guns. She chaffed him all the time, much to the annoyance of his life's partner, who was sitting opposite, and who, owing to an erection of flowers, was unable to quite see what was going on. "Yes," we heard Mr. Dodd say, at last, "I nearly bought it in Paris at the Exhibition. Eh! but it was a beautiful statue!" "I like statues," said Miss Springle. "Well, she was just a perfect specimen of a woman, but Missus Dodd wouldna let me purchase her, because the puir thing wasna dressed. I didna think it could matter in marble." "What's that you are saying about Mrs. Dodd?" demanded that lady from across the table, dodging the chrysanthemums. "I was telling Miss Springle, my dear, of the statue of 'Innocence' I wanted to buy at the Exhibition at Paris," replied Mr. Dodd, meekly, "and that you wouldna let me on account of the scanty clothing." "Innocence, indeed!" snorted Mrs. Dodd. "Pretty names they give things over there! And her clothing scant, you call it, Wullie? Why, you are stretching a point to the verge of untruth to call it clothing at all--a scarf of muslin and a couple of doves! Anyhow, I'll have it known I'll not have a naked woman in my drawing-room, in marble or flesh!" The conversation of the whole table was paralyzed by her voice. My eye caught Antony's, and we both laughed. "There, there, my dear, don't be even suggesting such things," said Mr. Dodd, soothingly. "La! Mrs. Dodd, you make me blush," giggled Miss Springle. I wondered what Antony thought of it all, and whether he had ever been among such people before. His face betrayed nothing after he laughed with me, and he seemed to be quietly enjoying his dinner, which, fortunately, was good. It was only for a few minutes before we all said good-night that we spoke together alone. "Shall you be down to breakfast, Comtesse?" he asked me. "Oh yes," I said, "These people would never understand. They would think I was being deliberately rude if I breakfasted in my room." "At nine o'clock, then?" "Yes." "Lend me your La Rochefoucauld to read to-night?" he asked. "With pleasure. I will have it sent to your room." "No, let me get it from your mustard boudoir myself. I shall be coming up, probably, to change into a smoking-coat, and my room is down that way, you know." "Very well." So we said good-night. Half an hour afterwards, I was standing by my sitting-room fire when Antony came into the room. He leaned on the mantel-piece beside me and looked down into my face. "When will you come over to Dane Mount, Comtesse? I want to show you _my_ great-great-grandmother. She was yours, too, by-the-way," he said. "When will you ask us?" "In about a fortnight. I have to run about Norfolk until then. Will you come some time near the 4th of November?" "I shall have to ask Augustus, but I dare say we can."