Friday

"Pardonnez moi, Monsieur," said Victor, who for the sake of Edith,
would sometimes stretch the truth, "I saw Mr. Floyd yesterday, and
he is coming here this morning to talk with you about the west
wood lot you offered for sale. Hadn't you better stay home for
once and let Miss Edith go alone."

Edith gave a most grateful look t Victor, who had only substituted
"this morning" for "some time to-day," the latter being what Mr.
Floyd had really said.

"Perhaps I had," returned Richard. "I want so much to sell that
lot, but if Edith---"

"Never mind me, Mr. Harrington," she cried; "I have not been on
Bedouin's back in so long a time that he is getting quite
unmanageable, they say, and I shall be delighted to discipline him
this morning; the roads are quite fine for winter, are they not
Victor?"

"Never were better," returned the Frenchman; smooth and hard as a
rock. "You'll enjoy it amazingly, I know. I'll tell Jake not to
get out the carriage," and without waiting for an answer the
politic victor left the room.

Richard had many misgivings as to the propriety of letting Edith
go without him, and he was several times on the point of changing
his mind, but Edith did not give him any chance, and at just a
quarter before ten she came down equipped in her riding habit, and
asking if he had any message for Mr. St. Claire.