The sound of Miss Mary's steps, though they could hardly be heard upon the green sward, awakened Raoul from his musing attitude; he turned round, perceived the young girl, and walked forward to meet the companion whom his happy destiny had thrown in his way.
"I have been sent to you, monsieur," said Mary Grafton; "will you take care of me ?" "To whom is my gratitude due, for so great a happiness ?" inquired Raoul.
"To the Duke of Buckingham," replied Mary, affecting a gayety she did not really feel.
"To the Duke of Buckingham, do you say ?--he who so passionately seeks your charming society! Am I really to believe you are serious, mademoiselle ?" "The fact is, monsieur, you perceive, that everything seems to conspire to make us pass the best, or rather the longest, part of our days together.

Yesterday it was the king who desired me to beg you to seat yourself next to me at dinner; to-day, it is the Duke of Buckingham who begs me to come and place myself near you on this seat." "And he has gone away in order to leave us together ?" asked Raoul, with some embarrassment.
"Look yonder, at the turning of that path; he is just out of sight, with Miss Stewart.

Are these polite attentions usual in France, monsieur le vicomte ?" "I cannot very precisely say what people do in France, mademoiselle, for I can hardly be called a Frenchman.

I have resided in many countries, and almost always as a soldier; and then, I have spent a long period of my life in the country.

I am almost a savage." "You do not like your residence in England, I fear." "I scarcely know," said Raoul, inattentively, and sighing deeply at the same time.
"What! you do not know ?" "Forgive me," said Raoul, shaking his head, and collecting his thoughts, "I did not hear you." "Oh!" said the young girl, sighing in her turn, "how wrong the duke was to send me here!" "Wrong!" said Raoul, "perhaps so; for I am but a rude, uncouth companion, and my society annoys you.