It was agreed therefore that the money should be refunded as soon as Cyril found himself in a position to raise money upon his newly acquired estate. He was now Sir Cyril, an empty honour which he had no intention of parading among the simple people who only knew him as ‘the parson,’ and who might possibly think a baronet less approachable and sympathetic in their difficulties and griefs than plain ‘mister.’
CHAPTER XV.
MR. PIPER ASSERTS HIMSELF.
‘You ride, of course,’ Captain Standish said to Bella, upon one of her Thursday afternoons, in the middle of September.
Bella blushed. She had never mounted a horse in her life.
‘I am very fond of riding,’ she said.
‘Have you ever ridden to hounds?’
‘Do you mean hunted?’ she asked, naively. ‘Oh no, never.’
‘Then you must begin this winter. I’ll show you the way, and take care of you.’
‘I don’t think Mr. Piper would let me hunt,’ said Bella, dubiously. ‘I’ve heard him abuse hunting ladies; and as he never rides himself——’