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108 and how on that occasion Peregrine had been in at the death with the huntsman and only one other. 'And the mare, you know, is only four years old and hardly half trained,' said Sir Peregrine, with great exultation, 'The young scamp, to have ridden her in that way!' It may be doubted whether he would have been a prouder man or said more about it if his grandson had taken honours.

And then the gong sounded, and Sir Peregrine led Lady Mason into the dining-room. Lucius, who as we know thought no more of the Ormes than of the Joneses and Smiths, paused in his awe before he gave his arm to Mrs. Orme; and when he did so he led her away in perfect silence, though he would have given anything to be able to talk to her as he went. But he bethought himself that unfortunately he could find nothing to say. And when he sat down it was not much better. He had not dined at The Cleeve before, and I am not sure whether the butler in plain clothes and the two men in livery did not help to create his confusion,—in spite of his well-digested democratic ideas.

The conversation during dinner was not very bright. Sir Peregrine said a few words now and again to Lady Mason, and she replied with a few others. On subjects which did not absolutely appertain to the dinner, she perhaps was the greatest talker; but even she did not say much. Mrs. Orme as a rule never spoke unless she were spoken to in any company consisting of more than herself and one other; and young Peregrine seemed to imagine that carving at the top of the table, asking people if they would take stewed beef, and eating his own dinner, were occupations quite sufficient for his energies. 'Have a bit more beef, Mason; do. If you will, I will.' So far he went in conversation, but no farther while his work was still before him.

When the servants were gone it was a little better, but not much. 'Mason, do you mean to hunt this season?' Peregrine asked.

'No,' said the other.

'Well, I would if I were you. You will never know the fellows about here unless you do.'

'In the first place I can't afford the time,' said Lucius, 'and in the next place I can't afford the money.' This was plucky on his part, and it was felt to be so by everybody in the room; but perhaps had he spoken all the truth, he would have said also that he was not accustomed to horsemanship.

'To a fellow who has a place of his own as you have, it costs nothing,' said Peregrine.

'Oh, does it not?' said the baronet; 'I used to think differently.'

'Well; not so much, I mean, as if you had everything to buy. Besides, I look upon Mason as a sort of a Crœsus. What on earth