"No, just a little since."

"That is remarkable. Can you satisfy my curiosity, and tell me
why?"

"Because under ordinary circumstances it appears to me impossible
for a lady to make her toilette and drive ten miles in less than
two hours."

"That is quite true, Mr. Counsellor; but neither do I intend to
drive ten miles to-day."

"It was for that reason that I said, fly."

"Neither fly. And to convince you and quite certainly rid you of
the idea of witchcraft, you can stay here, if you please, until--
what time was it?"

"Two o'clock."

"That is two long hours; but the Counsellor can, if he please, lay
that offering upon the altar of education."

"Oh! I know another altar, upon which I would rather offer the two
only all too short hours"--.

"Let it now be upon that of education. You promised my cousin and
me that you would read to us about popular science of nature and
interesting facts in the life of animals."