28 TALES OF PINK AND SILK. 



The next covert was drawn blank, and as they wended 

 then- way to the far-famed Bishop's gorse, the home of a well- 

 known veteran, Mamisell trotted up to Captain Frank Gordon 

 and his fiancee. 



" Look out for squalls, Miss Cuthbert," he said. " You're 

 shocking the morals of the ladies of the hunt. I've had 

 one remark to me a minute ago, ' Just look at the way that 

 brazen-faced creature is carrying on with Captain Gordon. 

 She has not known him five minutes, and she can't keep out 

 of the poor man's pocket.' " 



Both the brazen-faced creature and the poor man laughed 

 loudly. 



"Never mind what those poor jealous old maids say, 

 Frank," said Ethel. " They don't bother me in the least, and 

 no one takes the slightest notice of them, I know." 



Just then Lady Beauchamp rode up. 



" Captain Gordon or Mr. Maunsell, will you be so kind as 

 to introduce me to Miss Cuthbert, or I must introduce 

 myself?" 



" Miss Cuthbert," she said, " I must apologise for never 

 having called on you and your mother, but I had no idea 

 that she was my old friend from Edmonton Priory. Some 

 ladies of my acquaintance informed me that you were 

 horse-breakers from Tunbridge Wells. Tell your mother, 

 please, that I will call on her to-morrow afternoon — and 

 pave the way for me, please, by explaining away my rude 

 behaviour." 



" We did come from Tunbridge Wells, Lady Beauchamp, 

 where we had been living for five years in a little cottage of 

 mother's, and a mistake might easily be made, for there is a 

 Cuthbert a horse-dealer at Tunbridge Wells. He was stud 

 groom at the Priory for thirty years, and when father died 

 and the smash came, he started horse-dealing on his own 

 account. He has been so good to us in many ways, and has 



