THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 203 



" I see. But how am I- 



" That's your busmess, not mme. But as every labourer is 

 worthy of his hire, I'll make you this offer : if no verdict is 



given against us in this action bother ! he's stopped playin' 



— never mind, you go over and talk to the rest and I'll just 

 write it down in pencil on the back of this card, and give it 

 you when you go." 



Eonald rose in obedience to the commands of his hostess, 

 and went across the room to join the group at the piano. 

 They persuaded the Prince to play another piece ; then 

 Penelope, in a sweet, if not very strong voice, sang the air of 

 an old-fashioned Christmas carol, and in this way the rest 

 of the evening passed rapidly and pleasantly away. When 

 the visitors rose to take their departure, Mrs. Binkie, in 

 saying good-night to Ptonald, slipped an ordinary visiting- 

 card into his hand (a little awkward this, as Penelope had 

 just previously placed in the same receptacle a dear little 

 three-cornered note, expressive, as Pionald afterwards found, 

 of her undying devotion and her determination to marry 

 him and no other man 'in the wide, wide world'). He 

 and the Prince then wrapped their fur coats about them, 

 and tramped off through the snow in the direction of their 

 rooms. The stars shone bright and hard, and an old dog 

 fox crossed their path near the shrubbery, wending his way 

 towards the house. As soon as they got into their rooms, 

 Eonald turned up the lamp, drew Mrs. Binkie's card from 

 his pocket and read as follows — 



" If we win the case of ' Turnover v. Binkie ' you have my 



consent to marry Penelope. 



"C. B." 



