Without ceasing for a moment to be conventionally polite, Vavasor allowed major Marvel to see unmistakably that his society was not welcome to him. Entirely ignorant each of the other’s pursuits, and nearly incapable of agreement on any point, each would gladly have shown the other to be the fool he counted him. Each watched the other—the major annoyed with the other’s silent pretention, and Vavasor regarding the major as a narrow-minded and overgrown schoolboy—though, in fact, his horizon was very much wider than his own.

After breakfast the next day, all but Mr. Raymount went out for a little walk together.

It seemed destined to be a morning of small adventures. As they passed the gate of a nearby farm, out rushed a half-grown pig. Heading right for the major, the animal shot between the well-parted legs of the man, throwing him backwards into a humiliating heap. A look of keen gratification rose in Vavasor’s face, but he was too well-bred to allow it to remain. He proceeded to offer assistance to the fallen hero. Marvel, however, heavy as he was, did not require it, but got on his feet again with a cheerfulness which showed either a sweetness or a control over his temper, which gave him a great lift in Hester’s estimation.

“Confound the brute!” he laughed. “He can’t know how many of his wild relatives I have stuck, else he should never have done it. What a mess he has made of me!”

Saffy laughed merrily over the fun he made of his fall, but Mark looked concerned. He ran and pulled some grass and proceeded to brush him off.

“Let us go into the farmhouse,” said Mrs. Raymount. “Mrs. Stokes will give us some assistance.”

“No, no,” returned the major. “Better let the mud dry. It will come off much better then. Why shouldn’t piggy have his fun as well as another, eh, Mark? Come along. You shan’t have your walk spoiled by my carelessness.”

There seemed to be more creatures than the pig wanting to escape the bounds. A spirit of liberty was abroad. Mark and Saffy went rushing away like wild rabbits every now and then, making a round and returning. It was one of those cooler of warm mornings that rouse all the life in heart, brain, and nerves, making every breath a pleasure and every movement a joy.