"Indeed! And is your journey a long one? Are we to be travelling companions for some time to come?"
"I am going rather a long way—to Holborough."
"I am very glad to hear that, for I am going farther myself, to the outer edge of Yorkshire, where I believe I am to do wonderful execution upon the birds. A fellow I know has taken a shooting-box yonder, and writes me most flourishing accounts of the sport. I know Holborough a little, by the way. Does your father live in the town?"
"O, no; papa could never endure to live in a small country town. Our house is a couple of miles away—Arden Court; perhaps you know it?"
"Yes, I have been to Arden Court," the traveller answered, with rather a puzzled air. "And your papa lives at Arden?—I did not know he had any other daughter," he added in a lower key, to himself rather than to his companion. "Then I suppose I have the pleasure of speaking to Miss—"
"My name is Lovel My father is Marmaduke Lovel, of Arden Court."
The traveller looked at her with a still more puzzled air, as if singularly embarrassed by this simple announcement. He recovered himself quickly, however, with a slight effort.
"I am proud and happy to have made your acquaintance, Miss Lovel," he said; "your father's family is one of the best and oldest in the North Riding."
After this, they talked of many things; of Clarissa's girlish experiences at Belforêt; of the traveller's wanderings, which seemed to have extended all over the world.
He had been a good deal in India, in the Artillery, and was likely to return thither before long.