"In the mean time, what is the meaning of your not being amongst the performers? You used to be a capital shot." "I? O, of course I could not shoot before all the world." "Well, I was in hopes my pupil had been doing me credit; so much so, that I tried very hard to make that lady with the silver arrow into you, and--" as Marian looked at Miss Grimley's thin, freckled face, and reddish, sandy locks, and could not help smiling, he continued, "when that would not quite do, I went on trying to turn each maid of honour into you, till, just as I gave you up, I saw young Dashwood fixed in contemplation; and well he might be, for there was something so majestic as could be nothing but Zenobia, Queen of the East, or Miss Arundel herself." "Majestic! nonsense! nothing can feel less majestic." "Then decidedly you are not what you seem." "I was trying all the time to make you into Tressilian, only your red coat was in the way. You know I never saw you in it before." "And so you have given up archery?" "O, no! I shoot at home; only I cannot make a spectacle of myself,--I hate the whole thing so much." "And you would not wear a fancy dress?" "You see I am in mourning." "Why, who is dead?" "Don't you know? Old Mr. Thomas Marchmont." "Yes, and his great-grandfather likewise! Well, you certainly are inclined to make the most of your connection with the peerage," "Edmund!" and for the first time Marian felt as if she had been making herself more foolish than magnanimous. He gave his arm and they walked along together. He presently began abruptly, "What I came here for was to consult you about a plan for Gerald. You see I shall never get at him unless I have him alone. Now I don't like to take him away from you for the holidays, but I do not see how it is to be managed otherwise." "I don't do him any good now," said Marian sadly. "What I thought of was this; I find I can get leave for two months this summer. Now suppose I was to take him to Marchmont's grouse shooting place in Scotland, and about among the Highlands and Islands. Perhaps the pleasure of that excursion would make up for the being carried off by an awful guardian, and those scrambles might bring him to the old footing with me." "O it would be very nice to have him with you," said Marian; "but----" "Well, what is the but?" "I don't know, only would not taking him home be more likely to revive old associations than anything else?" "No," answered Edmund most decidedly; then in a more hesitating manner, as if casting about for reasons, he added, "I mean he was at home last year--it would not appear so inviting as this expedition--it would be giving every one a great deal of trouble." "To have the Manor House set to rights--yes--but just a week at the Parsonage--just to revive the old feelings with you. For you to teach him how to behave to the Fern Torr people." "No," repeated Edmund, "it would not do."