She had not ridden to hounds for nothing.

She had at heart the sportsman's instinct.

It was upon this basis, indeed, that Richard appealed to her in the first trying days of Lali's life among them.

To oppose your will to Marion on the basis of superior knowledge was only to turn her into a rebel; and a very effective rebel she made; for she had a pretty gift at the retort courteous, and she could take as much, and as well, as she gave.

She rebelled at first at assisting in Lali's education, though by fits and starts she would teach her English words, and help her to form long sentences, and was, on the whole, quite patient.