"I must apologise for my sudden appearance, Geoffrey,"--he then observed, turning to me--"But as I walked here from the station and came up your fine avenue of trees, I was so struck with the loveliness of this place and the exquisite peace of its surroundings, that, knowing my way through the grounds, I thought I would just look about and see if you were anywhere within sight before I presented myself at the conventional door of entrance. And I was not disappointed,--I found you, as I expected, enjoying each other's society!--the happiest and most fortunate couple existent,--people whom, out of all the world I should be disposed to envy, if I envied worldly happiness at all, which I do not!" I glanced at him quickly;--he met my gaze with a perfectly unembarrassed air, and I concluded that he had not overheard Sibyl's sudden melodramatic outburst. "Have you dined?" I asked, with my hand on the bell. "Thanks, yes. The town of Leamington provided me with quite a sumptuous repast of bread and cheese and ale. I am tired of luxuries you know,--that is why I find plain fare delicious. You are looking wonderfully well, Geoffrey!--shall I offend you if I say you are growing--yes--positively stout?--with the stoutness befitting a true county gentleman, who means to be as gouty in the future as his respectable ancestors?" I smiled, but not altogether with pleasure; it is never agreeable to be called 'stout' in the presence of a beautiful woman to whom one has only been wedded a matter of three months. "_You_ have not put on any extra flesh;--" I said, by way of feeble retort. "No"--he admitted, as he disposed his slim elegant figure in an arm-chair near my own--"The necessary quantity of flesh is a bore to me always,--extra flesh would be a positive infliction. I should like, as the irreverent though reverend Sidney Smith said, on a hot day, 'to sit in my bones,' or rather, to become a spirit of fine essence like Shakespeare's Ariel, if such things were possible and permissible. How admirably married life agrees with _you_, Lady Sibyl!" His fine eyes rested upon her with apparent admiration,--she flushed under his gaze I saw, and seemed confused. "When did you arrive in England?" she inquired. "Yesterday,"--he answered,--"I ran over Channel from Honfleur in my yacht,--you did not know I had a yacht, did you Tempest?--oh, you must come for a trip in her some day. She is a quick vessel, and the weather was fair." "Is Amiel with you?" I asked. "No. I left him on board the yacht. I can, as the common people say, 'valet myself' for a day or two." "A day or two?" echoed Sibyl--"But you surely will not leave us so soon? You promised to make a long visit here."