"You dear, dear old fellow!" cried Vixen; and then turning to Rorie: "You told me he was sold at Tattersall's!" she exclaimed.
"So he was, and I bought him."
"Why did you not tell me that?"
"Because you did not ask me."
"I thought you so unkind, so indifferent about him."
"You were unkind when you could think it possible I should let your favourite horse fall into strange hands. But perhaps you would rather Lord Mallow had bought him?"
"To think that you should have kept the secret all this time!" said Vixen.
"You see I am not a woman, and can keep a secret. I wanted to have one little surprise for you, as a reward when you had been especially good.
"You are good," she said, standing on tiptoe to kiss him. "And though I have loved you all my life, I don't think I have loved you the least little bit too much."