Page:The Semi-attached Couple.djvu/69

 young as she was, whatever you may say, Mr. Douglas; but she might exert herself to be a little more of a companion to him. She has none of my ideas that a wife is bound to exert herself for her husband's good."

"I met them riding together to-day," said Mr. Douglas.

"Riding, my dear!"

"Yes, riding, Anne."

"You must be dreaming, Mr. Douglas. Lady Eskdale on a horse!"

"No, my love, on a mare; the gray mare Helen used to ride."

"Impossible! How was she dressed, Mr. Douglas?"

"In a habit, my dear, and hat, with a veil. I can swear to the hat, for it became her particularly."

"Well," said Mrs. Douglas, with a scornful laugh, "I think this is by far the most amusing thing I ever heard. Lady Eskdale doing the youthful, galloping about the country flirting with her husband; I suppose she will begin dancing next. Lord Eskdale and she are probably at this moment practising the Gavotte de Vestris up and down the saloon. I don't know when I have been so diverted; but to a person of plain commonsense like myself, the tricks and ways of these London ladies are amazingly entertaining."

"However, you must allow, Anne, that this is not a die-away, languid air; and as you take such a kind interest in Lord Eskdale's fate, you will be happy to hear that he said he was quite delighted to have his wife riding with him again."

"Oh, my dear love! unless you mean to make me quite ill, you must not offer me the mawkish idea of Lord Eskdale making pretty speeches to his wife; I really cannot stand that. And pray, are this promising young couple likely to remain long in their solitary paradise? or are they going to, St. Mary's? or is there any company coming to the castle?"