Early next morning L'Estrange started on his shooting expedition, and anxiously did Ellen watch for his return, which did not take place till past eleven o'clock at night. He had stayed to dine after an excellent day's sport, and had plenty to tell about; he had brought, too, abundance of game, far more than fell to his gun, as also a lovely bouquet of hot-house flowers from Lady Edith for the young lady of the house. Oh! how Ellen prized them! with what haste she placed them in water! and when at last they faded, how she prayed the friendship, of which this seemed a prelude, if it came, might not fade away as fleetly! During the week L'Estrange again went shooting, and took with him a note from Ellen, thanking Lady Edith for her kind and beautiful present. Next Saturday, about one o'clock in the day, Captain de Vere, accompanied by his inseparable friend Arranmore, might have been seen in a tandem (the Captain never drove anything else), proceeding at the dangerous pace he always drove towards Edinburgh. As they neared Seaview a bright idea struck the Captain; this was to call for little Ravensworth and give him a drive: he was not altogether without hope too he might catch a sight of the beauty he had heard so much of. "And at any rate, Arranmore, we can pump the youngster well, and get her name and so forth, as we forgot to ask L'Estrange--will have lots to quiz Wentworth about too. By G---- it's a good idea, I'm d----d if I don't do it," he exclaimed, as he drew up the horses with a round turn at the gate of Seaview. Tossing the reins to Arranmore the Captain alighted (as he never could be bored with a servant on his trap) and rang the bell. As soon as Mr. Ravensworth's little page appeared he thus accosted him-- "Is young Nimrod at home?" "Who, my lord?" said the little boy, thinking he must be titled too. "Don't stare like a wild cat, you little fool. Is young Nimrod at home?--little Ravensworth, of course!" "Mr. Johnny is, if that's him." "Egad! that's him at last. Tell him I want him." The frightened lad stayed not a moment, but hurried to inform Johnny, who was then at luncheon, that another great lord wanted him. "Me; I'm coming;" and Johnny hurried down to see who it could be. "Halloo! what the deuce have you kept me so long for?" "I beg your pardon, my lord, I was as--" "D--n your eyes! I'm not a lord; call me Captain, that will do; but never mind, jump up if you would like a ride." Without attempting a reply, Johnny at once proceeded to scramble up behind; and he had hardly done so ere the Captain drove off at his break-neck pace; it almost made Johnny giddy to see at what a rate the ground spun away from under him. "How do you like it, my little man?" said Lord Arranmore, turning round. "Very much, _sir_, thank you," said Johnny, timidly. "By the Lord, you are most unhappy in your ideas," roared the Captain; "you lorded me who am nobody, and sirred him who is every inch a Marquis; and that's saying a good deal."