“But I thought it was Mr. Riatt’s own choice,” said Nancy gently. “You wouldn’t think so if you could have felt the place,” Ussher continued. “And what difference did it make? Who was there to talk? Every one knows that their being there was just an unavoidable accident--” “Oh, if it had been an accident!” said Nancy, and it was as if a little venomous snake had suddenly wriggled itself into the conversation. Every one turned toward her, and her brother asked sternly: “_If_, it had been an accident, Nancy? What the deuce do you mean by _if_?” Nancy shook her small head. “I express myself badly,” she said. “English rhetoric was left out of my education.” “You manage to convey your ideas, dear,” said Laura. “I was trying to say that if poor, dear Christine had not been so unfortunately the one to hit the horse in the head, and start him off--” Wickham pricked up his ears. “Oh, I say, Miss Fenimer,” he exclaimed, “did you really hit the horse?” “Certainly, I did, Mr. Wickham.” “But what did you do that for?” Christine did not trouble to answer this question. Hickson, who had been suffering far more than any one, rushed to the rescue. “Miss Fenimer did not do it on purpose, Wickham. She happened to be standing--” “Oh, is that what your sister meant?” said Christine, as if a sudden light dawned on her. “Tell me, Nancy darling, do you really think I hit the horse on purpose, so as to have an uninterrupted evening with Mr. Riatt? How you do flatter men! It’s a great art. I’m afraid I shall never learn it.” For the first time, Riatt found himself looking at her with a certain amount of genuine admiration. This was very straight fighting. “They have the piratical virtues,” he thought, “courage, and the ability to give and take hard blows.” Mrs. Almar was not to be outdone. “Well,” she said, “I may as well be honest. I can imagine myself doing it, for the right man. And we should have had an amusing evening of it, which was more than we had here, I can tell you. We were very dreary. Mr. Wickham tried to relieve the monotony by a game of piquet, but I’m afraid he did not really enjoy it, for he has not asked me to play since.” And she cast a quick stimulating glance at Wickham, whose usual inability to say nothing again betrayed him. “Oh,” he said, “I enjoyed our game immensely.” “Good,” answered Nancy. “We’ll have another this afternoon then.” “Indeed, yes,” said Wickham, looking rather wan. “After Mr. Riatt has gone,” said Nancy distinctly. She knew that Laura had had no opportunity to convey this intelligence to Christine, and it amused her to see how she would support the blow. Christine’s expression did not change, but her blue eyes grew suddenly a little darker. She turned slowly toward Riatt. “And are you leaving us?” she asked. “Sorry to say I am.” “What a bore,” said Miss Fenimer politely. Hickson’s simple heart bounded for joy. “She’s refused him,” he thought, “and that’s why he’s rushing off like this.”