things happen every time.'

'I find it soporific,' said Rose.

'I'd rather be soporific in an arm-chair with a pipe.'

'This is one of the penalties of marriage,' Rose said lightly.

'Look here, I'm giving Christabel another jumping lesson to-morrow.
I've put some hurdles up. Will you come? She's getting on very well.
I'll take her hunting before long.'

'Does she like it?'

'Oh, rather! My word, it would have been a catastrophe if she hadn't
taken to it.' He paused, considering the terrible situation from which
he had been saved. 'Can't imagine what I should have done. But she's
never satisfied. She's beginning to jeer at the old brown horse. I've
seen a grey mare that might do for her,' and he went on to enumerate
the animal's points.

Rose said, 'Why don't you let her have her first season with the old
horse? He knows his business. He'll take care of her.'

'She wouldn't approve of that. I tell you, she's ambitious. I'll go
and fetch her and you'll hear for yourself.'

She watched him bending over his wife, and saw Christabel rise and
slip a hand under his arm. The action was a little like that of a
young woman taking a walk with her young man, but it betokened a