"Because, you see, I have never been in the English country before, and my uncle has given me to understand the customs are different to those abroad." He felt he could not look at her; the unusual gentleness in her voice was so alluring, and he had not forgotten the hurt of the chinchilla coat.

If he relented in his attitude at all she would certainly snub him again; so he continued staring in front of him, and answered ordinarily, "I expect you will do everything perfectly right, and every one will only want to be kind to you, and make you have a good time; and my uncle will certainly make love to you but you must not mind that." And Zara allowed herself to smile as she answered, "No, I shall not in the least object to that!" He knew she was smiling--out of the corner of his eye--and the temptation to clasp her to him was so overpowering that he said rather hoarsely, "Do you mind if I put the window down ?" He must have some air; he was choking.

She wondered more and more what was the matter with him, and they both fell into a constrained silence which lasted until they turned into the park gates; and Zara peered out into the ghostly trees, with their autumn leaves nearly off, and tried to guess from the lodge what the house would be like.
It was very enormous and stately, she found when they reached it, and, she walking with her empress air and Tristram following her, they at last came to the picture gallery where the rest of the party, who had arrived earlier, were all assembled in the center, by one of the big fireplaces, with their host and hostess having tea.
The Duke and Lady Ethelrida came forward, down the very long, narrow room (they had quite sixty feet to walk before they met them), and then, when they did, they both kissed Zara--their beautiful new relation!--and Lady Ethelrida taking her arm drew her towards the party, while she whispered, "You dear, lovely thing! Ever so many welcomes to the family and Montfitchet!" And Zara suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

How she had misjudged them all in her hurt ignorance! And determining to repair her injustice she advanced with a smile and was presented to the group..