"Curse the girl!" growled Rolph. "I wish women wouldn't be such fools. A kiss and a few warm words, and then, hang 'em! you're expected to marry 'em. Man can't marry every pretty girl he kisses. They want a missionary among 'em to tell 'em this isn't Turkey. If there's much more of it, I'm off back to Aldershot. No, I'm not," he added, with a half laugh, "not yet--Hallo, mother! You?" "Yes, my boy. I saw Madge go out just now, looking wild and excited. Rob, dear, you have been speaking to her?" "Well, I suppose so," he said bitterly. "And you have told her you love her?--asked her to be your wife?" "Good heavens, mother! are you gone mad too?--Madge--I never dreamed of such a thing." "Why?" said Mrs Rolph, with a strange coldness. "Because--because--" "Yes; because you have taken a fancy to another," said Mrs Rolph sternly. "Robert, my son, it is not I who am mad, but you. Have you thought well over all this?" "Don't ask questions," he said sulkily. "I am your mother, sir, and I assert my right to question you on such a matter as this, as your poor father would have questioned you. But there is no need. I have done wrong, and yet I cannot blame myself, for how could I, his mother, know that my son would act otherwise than as a gentleman." "Well, I never do." "It is false. When Mary Hayle died, I bade her go in peace, for I would try to be a mother to the orphaned girl. Heaven knows, I tried to be. I brought her here, and made her the humble companion of your cousin Madge. She shared her lessons; she was taught everything, that she might be able to earn her own livelihood as a governess." "Well, I know all that." "To be treated with ingratitude. My foolish son, when he comes home, must allow himself to be enmeshed by a cunning and deceitful woman." "What bosh, mother!" "But it is true. You do not dare to tell me you do not love Judith Hayle?" "There is no dare in question. I like the girl." "Unhappy boy! and she has led you on." Captain Rolph whistled. "Any telegram come for me? I sent a man to Brackley." "Telegram!" "Yes. I want to know about the footrace at Lilley Bridge." Mrs Rolph gave her foot an impatient stamp. "Listen to me, sir. This is no time for thinking about low sports." "Hallo? Low?" "Yes, sir; low. I have never interfered when I saw you taking so much interest in these pursuits. My son, I said to our friends, is an officer and a gentleman, and if he likes to encourage athleticism in the country by his presence at these meetings, he has a right to do so; but I have not liked it, though I have been silent. You know I have never interfered about your relaxations." "No; you've been a splendid mater," he said laughingly. "And I have been proud of my manly son; but when I see him stooping to folly--" "Misapplied quotation, mater--when lovely woman stoops to folly."