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lock of his hair；〃 she said gayly； 〃but I didn't CUT it off！〃
〃Throw it away； and come here！〃 he said angrily。
But she only tucked the little blond curl into her waist belt and
shook her head。 He urged his horse forward； but she turned and
fled； laughing as he pursued her。 Being the better rider she could
easily evade him whenever he got too near； and in this way they
eventually reached the town and their house long before their
companions。 But she was far enough ahead of her brother to be able
to dismount and hide her trophy with childish glee before he
arrived。
She was right in believing that her unfortunate cavalier would make
no revelation of her conduct； and his catastrophe passed as an
accident。 But Peter could not disguise the fact that much of his
unpopularity was shared by his sister。 The matrons of Atherly
believed that she was 〃fast；〃 and remembered more distinctly than
ever the evil habits of her mother。 That she would； in the due
course of time； 〃take to drink；〃 they never doubted。 Her dancing
was considered outrageous in its unfettered freedom； and her
extraordinary powers of endurance were looked upon as 〃masculine〃
by the weaker girls whose partners she took from them。 She
reciprocally looked down upon them； and made no secret of her
contempt for their small refinements and fancies。 She affected
only the society of men； and even treated them with a familiarity
that was both fearless and scornful。 Peter saw that it was useless
to face the opposition； Miss Atherly did not seem to encourage the
renewal of the young lawyer's attentions； although it was evident
that he was still attracted by her； nor did she seem to invite
advances from others。 He must go awayand he would have to take
her with him。 It seemed ridiculous that a woman of thirty； of
masculine character； should require a chaperon in a brother of
equal age； but Peter knew the singular blending of childlike
ignorance with this Amazonian quality。 He had made his
arrangements for an absence from Atherly of three or four years；
and they departed together。 The young fair…haired lawyer came to
the stage…coach office to see them off。 Peter could detect no
sentiment in his sister's familiar farewell of her unfortunate
suitor。 At New York； however； it was arranged that 〃Jinny〃 should
stay with some friends whom they had made en route； and that； if
she wished； she could come to Europe later； and join him in London。
Thus relieved of one； Peter Atherly of Atherly started on his
cherished quest of his other and more remote relations。
CHAPTER II
Peter Atherly had been four months in England； but knew little of
the country until one summer afternoon when his carriage rolled
along the well…ordered road between Nonningsby Station and Ashley
Grange。
In that four months he had consulted authorities； examined records；
visited the Heralds' College； written letters； and made a few
friends。 A rich American； tracing his genealogical tree； was not a
new thingeven in that dayin London； but there was something
original and simple in his methods； and so much that was grave；
reserved； and un…American in his personality； that it awakened
interest。 A recognition that he was a foreigner； but a puzzled
doubt； however； of his exact nationality； which he found
everywhere； at first pained him； but he became reconciled to it at
about the same time that his English acquaintances abandoned their
own reserve and caution before the greater reticence of this
melancholy American； and actually became the questioners！ In this
way his quest became known only as a disclosure of his own
courtesy； and offers of assistance were pressed eagerly upon him。
That was why Sir Edward Atherly found himself gravely puzzled； as
he sat with his family solicitor one morning in the library of
Ashley Grange。
〃Humph！〃 said Sir Edward。 〃And you say he has absolutely no other
purpose in making these inquiries？〃
〃Positively none；〃 returned the solicitor。 〃He is even willing to
sign a renunciation of any claim which might arise out of this
information。 It is rather a singular case； but he seems to be a
rich man and quite able to indulge his harmless caprices。〃
〃And you are quite sure he is Philip's son？〃
〃Quite； from the papers he brings me。 Of course I informed him
that even if he should be able to establish a legal marriage he
could expect nothing as next of kin； as you had children of your
own。 He seemed to know that already； and avowed that his only wish
was to satisfy his own mind。〃
〃I suppose he wants to claim kinship and all that sort of thing for
society's sake？〃
〃I do not think so；〃 said the solicitor dryly。 〃I suggested an
interview with you； but he seemed to think it quite unnecessary； if
I could give him the information he required。〃
〃Ha！〃 said Sir Edward promptly； 〃we'll invite him here。 Lady
Atherly can bring in some people to see him。 Is heahemWhat is
he like？ The usual American； I suppose？〃
〃Not at all。 Quite foreign…lookingdark； and rather like an
Italian。 There is no resemblance to Mr。 Philip；〃 he said； glancing
at the painting of a flaxen…haired child fondling a greyhound under
the elms of Ashley Park。
〃Ah！ Yes； yes！ Perhaps the mother was one of those Southern
creoles； or mulattoes；〃 said Sir Edward with an Englishman's
tolerant regard for the vagaries of people who were clearly not
English； 〃they're rather attractive women； I hear。〃
〃I think you do quite well to be civil to him；〃 said the solicitor。
〃He seems to take an interest in the family； and being rich； and
apparently only anxious to enhance the family prestige； you ought
to know him。 Now； in reference to those mortgages on Appleby Farm；
if you could get〃
〃Yes； yes！〃 said Sir Edward quickly； 〃we'll have him down here；
and； I say！ YOU'LL come too？〃
The solicitor bowed。 〃And； by the way；〃 continued Sir Edward；
〃there was a girl too；wasn't there？ He has a sister； I believe？〃
〃Yes； but he has left her in America。〃
〃Ah； yes！very goodyes！of course。 We'll have Lord Greyshott
and Sir Roger and old Lady Everton；she knows all about Sir Ashley
and the family。 Anderis he young or old？〃
〃About thirty； I should say； Sir Edward。〃
〃Ah； well！ We'll have Lady Elfrida over from the Towers。〃
Had Peter known of these preparations he might have turned back to
Nonningsby without even visiting the old church in Ashley Park；
which he had been told held the ashes of his ancestors。 For during
these four months the conviction that he was a foreigner and that
he had little or nothing in common with things here had been
clearly forced upon him。 He could recognize some kinship in the
manners and customs of the people to those he had known in the West
and on the Atlantic coast； but not to his own individuality； and he
seemed even more a stranger herewhere he had expected to feel the
thrill of consang