"Shall we walk up the hill together?" Roderick asked Violet humbly, "while the Scobels follow with their flock?" "I am going to drive Mr. and Mrs. Scobel," replied Vixen curtly. "But where is your carriage?" "I don t know. I rather think it was to meet us at the top of the hill." "Then let us go up together and find it--unless you hate me too much to endure my company for a quarter of an hour--or are too angry with me for my impertinence just now." "It is not worth being serious about," answered Vixen quietly, after a little pause. "I was very angry at the moment, but after all--between you and me--who were like brother and sister a few years ago, it can't matter very much. I daresay you may have kissed me in those days, though I have forgotten all about it." "I think I did--once or twice," admitted Rorie with laudable gravity. "Then let your impertinence just now go down to the old account, which we will close, if you please, to-night. But," seeing him drawing nearer her with a sudden eagerness, "mind, it is never to be repeated. I could not forgive that." "I would do much to escape your anger," said Rorie softly. "The whole situation just now was too ridiculous," pursued Vixen, with a spurious hilarity. "A young woman wandering blindfold in a wood all alone--it must have seemed very absurd." "It seemed very far from absurd--to me," said Rorie. They were going slowly up the grassy hill, the short scanty herbage looking gray in the dimness. Glow-worms were beginning to shine here and there at the foot of the furze-bushes. A pale moon was rising above the broad expanse of wood and valley, which sank with gentle undulations to the distant plains, where the young corn was growing and the cattle were grazing in a sober agricultural district. Here all was wild and beautiful--rich, yet barren. "I'm afraid when we met last--at Lady Southminster's ball--that I forgot to congratulate you upon your engagement to your cousin," said Violet by-and-by, when they had walked a little way in perfect silence. She was trying to carry out an old determination. She had always meant to go up to him frankly, with outstretched hand, and wish him joy. And she fancied that at the ball she had said too little. She had not let him understand that she was really glad. "Believe me, I am very glad that you should marry someone close at home--that you should widen your influence among us."