"He'll have to do without them; if he wants peaches, he had better
bring some down from Covent Garden."

A knock was heard at the door. "Please Miss, Mr. Escott is in the
drawing-room."

"Tell him I will be downstairs in a moment," cried Maggie.

"Now off you go, my Lady Mount Rorke," said Sally, who had already
begun to regret her promises, and to consider if she had not better
break them.

Maggie asked him what train he came down by, then she called the dog;
"Come here, my beautiful boy, come and kiss me." The bull-dog growled
and wagged his tail.

"He won't hurt you; 'tis only his way of talking."

Maggie laughed, and they walked out on the green sward. "I suppose
you've been to a great many balls this season?"

"I don't know that I have; a few, perhaps. I am glad to get away from
town. I like no place like this. I don't know if it is the place or
the associations."

"You are used to much finer places. I can fancy Mount Rorke--the lakes
and the mountains; somehow I think I can see it. Isn't it strange,
there are certain things and places you can realise so much better
than others, and for no very understandable reason?"