"I can't think why you aren't content to live here," said Anstice, gazing out of the window with a dreamy look in her eyes.
Justin made no reply. He made short work of his breakfast, and then Anstice saw a beautiful bay mare being brought round to the door. As he was mounting, he called out to her:
"Don't wait dinner for me, but I think I shall be in by eight o'clock. Brenda will take you over the house, and give you all the information you need."
He was gone; and Anstice drew a long breath of relief. She felt at last that she was free and independent.
As she stood outside on the terrace, drinking in the fresh sweet air, the little girls suddenly appeared holding between them by the collar a huge mastiff.
"It's Hercules and he wants to see what you're like," announced Josie. "You'd better make friends with him quick—while we hold him; he's awful to strangers, he's a kind of bloodhound, and seizes you with his teeth if he doesn't like you."
"He looks good tempered," said Anstice happily. "I'm very fond of big dogs."
She advanced towards him as she spoke, but as she was about to lay her hand on his head, a blood-curdling deep growl emitted from his great throat.
"There! He hates you, he won't be friends!" cried Georgie triumphantly.
"If you stop pinching his tail and let him loose, I'll see whether he likes me or not."