196 THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 



" Sep," she said suddenly, one afternoon — it was the day 

 preceding Christmas Eve, and Penelope had gone for a solitary 

 walk — not to meet Ronald ; only that she happened — what, 

 yon don't lielieve it ? Oh, very well, then, it's no good my 

 saying that it was an accident. 



" Sep," repeated that gentleman's better half, " don't you 

 think, perhaps, that you was a fool to refuse that young 

 Dennison ? " 



"Yes, my dear, if ?/o?( think so," replied he discreetly. It. 

 came so much cheaper in the end to agree with Mrs. Septimus, 

 and enabled him the sooner to get his afternoon nap. 



" Of course there's the objection that he hasn't got any 

 money " 



" Any money," echoed Sep faintly. 



" Nor prospects of ever getting any." 



" Getting any," smothering a yawn. 



"But theie, he's a real gentleman, you see; and what's, 

 more, he looks it." 



" Looks it," in still fainter tones from Sep. 



"Looks what? " queried the lady sharply. 



" I'm sure I don't know, my dear. What was it you 

 were saying? " 



"You're half asleep, Septimus, that's what it is. It's na 

 good trying to get any sense out of a man that's always 

 thinking either of his stom " 



"Cecilia!" 



"Well, his inside, then, if that's more genteel, and of 

 going to sleep directly after he's done eatin'. I'm not sure 

 it wouldn't l)e best still, to give Penelly — the gal's cryin' 

 her eyes out for him, I can see — to give Penelly five 'undred 



