"I have recovered my journey by this time," said Margaret, smiling; "that is all."
"I am playing a game against Lady James," said Harriet. "It has been my amusement all day long to cross her. She is trying to get Mr. Haveloc for Miss Campbell. You will see how I manage. I want him for myself."
"For yourself, Harriet?"
"Yes, to flirt with. Now look!"
Dinner was announced. Lady James glanced at Miss Campbell, who was seated by her, and then at Mr. Haveloc, who was standing before her talking.
"My fan, please, Mr. Haveloc!" cried Harriet from the other side of the room.
He had laid it down on one of the tables, and started off to find it. While he was searching about, with his glass at his eye, Harriet came up to him.
"Why, there it is. Good gracious! Come, we shall be late;" said she seizing the fan, and taking his arm, she sailed past the discomforted Miss Campbell and Lady James.
Margaret was next to Mr. Gage at dinner, and he entertained her with an account of the morning's shooting.
He said he was quite sorry for Mr. Haveloc; actually, he had confessed he could not see a pigeon five yards off—so unusual! Mr. Gage had strongly recommended him to have a glass fixed on his gun, but he had remarked that "le jeu ne valait pas la chandelle." Mr. Gage considered it a real affliction to be deprived of almost every rational means of amusement. Pigeon shooting was only one branch of the rational pursuits, there was shooting in general. He scarcely knew, indeed, how a man could hunt if he did not see a few feet in front of his horse's head. And yet Haveloc was a fair shot with a pistol. But then Miss Capel would recollect that in pistol shooting, the mark was stationary.