style="font-size:15px;"> "What authority have you for what you say? Are you trying to amuse yourself at my expense?"
"Allow me to explain. You see that fence, which is in rather a doddering condition-it forms the boundary line between Exham Park and Oak Dene, a fact which I have a particular reason to remember. Once, before this was my ground, I was shooting in these woods. My bird- it was only a pigeon-dropped on the other side of that fence. I was no better acquainted with the landmarks then than you appear to be now. Not aware that there was any difference between this side and that, I was scrambling over the fence to retrieve my pigeon when I was pulled up short by some very plain words, pronounced in a very plain tone of voice. I won't tell you what the words were, because you might like them even less than I did. I looked up; and there was an old gentleman, who was flanked by two persons who were evidently keepers. He was one of the most eloquent old gentlemen I had ever met. He commenced by wanting to know what I meant by being about to defile his ground by the intrusion of my person. I replied that I wasn't aware that it was his ground, and that I wanted my pigeon. He asked me who I was. When I told him he informed me that he was Septimus Arnott, and desired me to inform all persons bearing my name what he thought of them. He thought a good deal-in a sense. He wound up by remarking that he would instruct his keepers, if ever they caught me on the wrong side of that fence, to put a charge of lead into me at sight. Towards the end of the interview I was as genially disposed as he was; so I retorted by assuring him that if ever I caught anyone from Exham Park on this side, I'd do the honours with a charge of lead. This is the exact spot on which that interview took place-he was there and I here. But the circumstances have changed-it is Exham Park who is now the trespasser. Shall I put a charge of lead into you?"
"By all means-if you wish to."
"I am not quite sure that I do wish to."
"If you have the slightest inclination in that direction, pray don't hesitate."
"You mightn't like it."
"Don't consider my feelings, I beg. In such a matter surely you wouldn't allow my feelings to count."
"No? You think not? I don't know. Perhaps you're right; but, you see, I haven't a gun. I can't put charges of lead into anything, or anyone, without one.
"Pray don't let any trifling obstacle of that kind stand in your way. Permit me to send for one."
"Would you? You're very good. Who would you send?"
"Of course I would myself fetch you the indispensable weapon."
"And how long would you be, do you imagine? Should I have time to smoke a pipe while you were going there and back?"
Suddenly the lady drew herself up with a gesture which was possibly meant to be expressive of a judicious mingling of scorn with hauteur.
"It is possible, if you prefer it. I will admit that it is probable that my uncle was rude to you. Do you intend to continue the tradition, and be rude to me?"
"I was simply telling you a little anecdote, Miss Arnott."
"I am obliged to you for taking so much trouble. Now, with your permission, I will return to what you state to be my side of the fence."
"I state? Don't you state that that side of the fence is yours?"
"My impression was that both sides were mine. I will have the matter carefully inquired into. If your statement proves to be correct I will see that a communication is sent to you, conveying my apologies for having been an unwitting trespasser on your estate."
"Thank you. Can I lift you over?"
"Lift me over!"
The air of red-hot indignation with which his proposition was declined ought to have scorched him. It seemed, however, to have no effect on him of any sort. He continued to regard her from the top of the bank, with an air of indolent nonchalance, which was rapidly driving her to the conclusion that he was the most insolent person she had ever encountered. With a view, possibly, of showing the full absurdity of his offer of assistance, she placed both hands on the top of the fence, with the intention of vaulting over it. The intention was only partially fulfilled. During her wanderings with her father among their Cumberland hills she had become skilled in all manner of athletic exercises. Ordinarily she would have thought nothing of vaulting-or, for the matter of that, jumping-an insignificant fence. Perhaps her nervous system was more disorganised than she imagined. She caught her knee against the bar, and, instead of alighting gracefully on her feet, she rolled ignominiously over. She was up almost as soon as she was down, but not before he had cleared the fence at a bound, and was standing at her side. She exhibited no sign of gratitude for the rapidity with which he had come to her assistance. She merely put to him an icy question, -
"Was it necessary that you should trespass also?"
"Are you sure that you are not hurt? ankle not twisted, or anything of that kind?"
"Quite sure. Be so good as to return to your own side."
As he seemed to hesitate, a voice exclaimed, in husky tones, -
"By-, I've a mind to shoot you now."
He turned to see a man, between forty and fifty years of age, in the unmistakable habiliments of a gamekeeper, standing some twenty feet off, holding a gun in a fashion which suggested that it would need very little to induce him to put it to his shoulder and pull the trigger. Hugh Morice greeted him as if he were an old acquaintance.
"Hullo, Jim Baker! So you're still in the land of the living?"
Mr Baker displayed something more than surliness in his reply.
"So are you, worse luck! What are you doing here? Didn't Mr Arnott tell me if I saw you on our land to let fly, and pepper you?"
"I was just telling Miss Arnott the story. Odd that you should come upon the scene as corroborating evidence."
"For two pins I'd let fly!"
"Now, Baker, don't be an idiot. Take care how you handle that gun, or there'll be trouble; your hands don't seem too steady. You don't want me to give you another thrashing, do you? Have you forgotten the last one I gave you?"
"Have I forgotten?" The man cursed his questioner with a vigour which was startling. "I'll never forget-trust me. I'll be even with you yet, trust me. By – if you say another word about it I'll let fly at you now!"
Up went the stock of the gun to the speaker's shoulder, the muzzle pointing direct at Mr Morice. That gentleman neither moved nor spoke; Miss Arnott did both.
"Baker, are you mad? Put down that gun. How dare you so misbehave yourself?"
The gun was lowered with evident reluctance.
"Mr Arnott, he told me to shoot him if ever I see him this side the fence."
"I am mistress here now. You may think yourself fortunate if you're not presently introduced to a policeman."
"I was only obeying orders, that's all I was doing."
"Orders! How long ago is it since the orders to which you refer were given you?"
Mr Morice interposed an answer, -
"It's more than four years since I was near the place."
The keeper turned towards him with a vindictive snarl.
"Four
