It did not make me vain. I had no rivalry with Lucy
and Minnie. But Reginald whispered some soft, fond words in my ear
a little before he mounted his horse to set off homeward, which DID
make me happy and proud. And to think that the next time we met--
but I forgave him long ago. Poor Reginald! And now shawls and
cloaks were in request, and carriages rolled up to the porch, and
the guests gradually departed. At last no one was left but those
visitors staying in the house. Then my father, who had been called
out to speak with the bailiff of the estate, came back with a look
of annoyance on his face.
"A strange story I have just been told," said he; "here has been my
bailiff to inform me of the loss of four of the choicest ewes out
of that little flock of Southdowns I set such store by, and which
arrived in the north but two months since. And the poor creatures
have been destroyed in so strange a manner, for their carcasses are
horribly mangled."
Most of us uttered some expression of pity or surprise, and some
suggested that a vicious dog was probably the culprit.
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