said Lady Scroope gravely. "There is a tendency I think at present to
give them an undue importance. When our amusements become more serious
to us than our business, we must be going astray."

"I suppose we always are going astray," said Miss Mellerby. Lady Scroope
sighed and shook her head; but in shaking it she shewed that she
completely agreed with the opinion expressed by her guest.

As there were only two horses to be inspected, and as Fred Neville
absolutely refused the groom's invitation to look at the old carriage
horses belonging to the family, he was back in his aunt's room before
Miss Mellerby had gone upstairs to dress for dinner. The introduction
was made, and Fred did his best to make himself agreeable. He was such
a man that no girl could, at the first sight of him, think herself
injured by being asked to love him. She was a good girl, and would have
consented to marry no man without feeling sure of his affections; but
Fred Neville was bold and frank as well as handsome, and had plenty to
say for himself. It might be that he was vicious, or ill-tempered, or
selfish, and it would be necessary that she should know much of him
before she would give herself into his keeping; but as far as the first
sight went, and the first hearing, Sophie Mellerby's impressions were
all in Fred's favour. It is no doubt a fact that with the very best of
girls a man is placed in a very good light by being heir to a peerage
and a large property.

"Do you hunt, Miss Mellerby?" he asked. She shook her head and looked
grave, and then laughed. Among her people hunting was not thought to be
a desirable accomplishment for young ladies. "Almost all girls do hunt
now," said Fred.