when 'twas so obviously proper?" argued Lady Catharine, bravely. "And
certainly, if we come to knights and the like, good chivalry has ever
demanded succor for those in distress; and if, forsooth, it was two
damsels in a comfortable coach, who rescued two knights from underneath
a hedge-row, why, such is but the way of these modern days, when knights
go seeking no more for adventures and ladies fair; as you very well
know."

"As I do not know, Lady Catharine," replied Mary Connynge. "To the
contrary, 'twould not surprise me to learn that he would not shrink
from any adventure which might offer."

"You mean--that is--you mean the tall one, him who said he was Mr. Law
of Lauriston?"

"Well, perhaps. Though I must say," replied Mary Connynge, with
indirection, "that I fancy the other far more, he being not so forward,
nor so full of pure conceit. I like not a man so confident." This with
an eye cast down, as much as though there were present in the room some
man subject to her coquetry.

"Why, I had not found him offering such an air," replied Lady Catharine,
judicially. "I had but thought him frank enough, and truly most
courteous."

"Why, truly," replied Mary Connynge. "But saw you naught in his eye?"

"Why, but that it was blue, or gray," replied Lady Catharine.

"Oh, ho! then my lady did look a bit, after all! And so this is why the