Things have not gone well with him.

His wife, who was a very beautiful girl, and whom he passionately loved, was killed by a fall from her horse a few months after the birth of her first child.

The child died too, and the double loss ruined Sir David.

He used to spend the greater part of his life at Heatherly, and was a general favourite among the county people; but since that time he has avoided the place, except during the shooting season.

He has a hunting-box in the shires, and is a regular daredevil over a big country they tell me." They had reached the little gate opening from the wood into the park by this time.