Then Mona rises, and they both come to the entrance of the small room, and stand where Lady Rodney can overhear what they are saying.
"Oh! so you can ride, then," says Lauderdale, alluding probably to the cause of his late merriment.
"Sure of course," says Mona. "Why, I used to ride the colts barebacked at home."
Lady Rodney shudders.
"Sometimes I long again for a mad, wild gallop straight across country, where nobody can see me,—such as I used to have," goes on Mona, half regretfully.
"And who allowed you to risk your life like that?" asks the duke, with simple amazement. His sister before she married was not permitted to cross the threshold without a guardian at her side. This girl is a revelation.
"No one," says Mona. "I had no need to ask permission for anything. I was free to do what I wished."
She looks up at him again with some fire in her eyes and a flush upon her cheeks. Perhaps some of the natural lawlessness of her kindred is making her blood warm. So standing, however, she is the very embodiment of youth and love and sweetness, and so the duke admits.
"Have you any sisters?" he asks, vaguely.
"No. Nor brothers. Only myself.