He was tall and strongly built, with a frame that had been developed by many an athletic exercise--from throwing the hammer to pugilism. Vixen thought him the image of Richard Coeur de Lion. She had been reading "The Talisman" lately, and the Plantagenet was her ideal of manly excellence. "Many happy returns of the day, Rorie," she said softly. "To think that you are of age to-day. Your own master." "Yes, my infancy ceased and determined at the last stroke of midnight yesterday. I wonder whether my anxious mother will recognise that fact?" "Of course you know what is going to happen at Briarwood. There is to be a grand dinner-party." "And you are coming? How jolly!" "Oh, no, Rorie. I am not out yet, you know. I shan't be for two years. Papa means to give me a season in town. He calls it having me broken to harness. He'll take a furnished house, and we shall have the horses up, and I shall ride in the Row, You'll be with us part of the time, won't you, Rorie?" "_Ca se peut_. If papa will invite me." "Oh, he will, if I wish it. It's to be my first season, you know, and I'm to have everything my own way." "Will that be a novelty?" demanded Roderick, with intention. "I don't know. I haven't had my own way in anything lately." "How is that?" "You have been away." At this naive flattery, Roderick almost blushed. "How you've grown. Vixen," he remarked presently. "Have I really? Yes, I suppose I do grow. My frocks are always getting too short." "Like the sleeves of my dress-coats a year or two ago." "But now you are of age, and can't grow any more. What are you going to be, Rorie? What are you going to do with your liberty? Are you going into Parliament?" Mr. Vawdrey indulged in a suppressed yawn. "My mother would like it," he said, "but upon my word I don't care about it. I don't take enough interest in my fellow-creatures." "If they were foxes, you'd be anxious to legislate for them," suggested Vixen. "I would certainly try to protect them from indiscriminate slaughter. And in fact, when one considers the looseness of existing game-laws, I think every country gentleman ought to be in Parliament." "And there is the Forest for you to take care of." "Yes, forestry is a subject on which I should like to have my say. I suppose I shall be obliged to turn senator. But I mean to take life easily--you may be sure of that, Vixen; and I intend to have the best stud of hunters in Hampshire. And now I think I must be off." "No, you mustn't," cried Violet. "The dinner is not till eight. If you leave here at six you will have no end of time for getting home to dress. How did you come?" "On these two legs." "You shall have four to take you to Briarwood. West shall drive you home in papa's dog-cart, with the new mare. You don't know her, do you? Papa only bought her last spring. She is such a beauty, and goes--goes--oh, like a skyrocket. She bolts occasionally; but you don't mind that, do you?"