Underwood knew very well what it was before he looked at it. It was from Lady Herbert, explaining that she had only just heard that Lord Erradeen was so near a neighbour, and begging him, if he was not, like all the other gentlemen, on the hills, that he would come ("and your friend Captain Underwood") to luncheon that day to cheer two forlorn ladies left all by themselves in this wilderness. "And you will meet an old friend," it concluded playfully. The composition was Julia's, and had not been produced without careful study. "My doing!" said Captain Underwood. "Can you suppose that _I_ want you to marry, Erradeen?" It was a case, he thought, in which truth was best. Walter started up from his seat. "Marry!" he cried, with a half-shout of rage and dismay. "Well, my dear fellow, I don't suppose you are such a fool; but, of course, that is what _she_ means. The fair Julia----" "Oblige me," cried Lord Erradeen, taking up once more his position on the hearth, "by speaking civilly when you speak of ladies in my house." "Why, bless me, Erradeen, you gave me the note----" "I was a fool--that is nothing new. I have been a fool since the first day when I met you and took you for something more than mortal. Oh, and before that!" cried Walter bitterly. "Do not flatter yourself that you did it. It is of older date than you." "The fair Julia----" Underwood began; but he stopped when his companion advanced upon him threatening, with so gloomy a look and so tightly strained an arm that the captain judged it wise to change his tone. "I should have said, since we are on punctilio, that Miss Herbert and you are older acquaintances than you and I, Erradeen." "Fortunately you have nothing to do with that," Walter said, perceiving the absurdity of his rage. Then he walked to the window and looked out so long and silently that the anxious watcher began to think the incident over. But it was not till Walter, after this period of reflection, had written a note and sent it to the messenger, that he ventured to speak. "You have accepted, of course. In the circumstances it would be uncivil----" Walter looked at him for a moment, breaking off his sentence as if he had spoken. "I have something to tell you," he said. "My mother is coming to Auchnasheen." "Your mother!" Underwood's voice ran into a quaver of dismay. "You will see that in the circumstances, as you say, I am forced to be uncivil. When my mother is here she will, of course, be the mistress of the house; and she, as you know----" "Will not ask me to prolong my visit," said the captain, with an attempt at rueful humour. "I think we may say as much as that, Erradeen." "I fear it is not likely," Walter said. Captain Underwood gave vent to his feelings in a prolonged whistle.