"You will not win it.

May I look at yours ?" He extended his hand with an amused laugh; but without a smile, she said: "Yes, it is a quaint ring; I like quaint things.

I shall wear it on my little finger." She dropped his hand quickly, for at that moment Stafford rode round the bend of the drive.

His face was grave and almost stern in its preoccupation, but he caught sight of them, and raised his hat, then turned his horse and rode up to the terrace.
"Good-morning, Stafford," exclaimed Howard.

"Where have you been?
Hallo! Anything happened?
You're coated all over with mud: had a fall ?" He nodded carelessly as he turned to the beautiful girl, lying back now and looking up at his handsome face with an air of languid indifference.
"What a lovely day, Miss Falconer! Where are all the others?
Are you not going for a drive, on the lake, somewhere ?" "I have just been asking Mr.Howard to take me for a row," she said, "but he has refused." Stafford laughed and glanced at his watch.
"I can quite believe it: he's the laziest wretch in existence.