"Tut! Edie! what matters a passing joke to a pretty girl. You are not jealous of Jenny Forbes, I hope?"
"By no means; only you should remember you are now married, and should leave such follies to the unmarried young men."
As they spoke the party had come to where the Captain still stood.
"John, have you nothing to say to our guest, Miss Ravensworth?" said Lady Arranmore.
"It is d—d hot, isn't it, Miss Ravensworth?"
Ellen could not forbear smiling at the curt reply, though she felt somewhat shocked.
"You were ill, I was sorry to hear," continued the young officer; "but you have apparently picked up in a wonderfully short time. I am blessed if I would have ever found it out."
They passed on, and the Captain resumed his interrupted conversation.
"I'faith! it is hot, though. This reminds me of Spain a bit, where our men dropped dead by sunstroke like ripe acorns. There, I have nothing more to say now, Forbes, so you may go on with your work, and give my love to your fair daughter; or stay, I will save you the trouble, as my sister has carried off the Marquis. Here, boy," addressing a peasant lad, "hold my horse—or stay, lead it up to the stables; and tell Wilton to give you half-a-crown for your trouble;" at the same time flinging himself off his steed, he said, in sotto voce, to the farmer, "You will remember and send one, then?"
"Ay, ay, sir! I'll send a laddie this very night."