Miss Virginia E. Otis was a little girl of fifteen, lithe and lovely as a fawn, and with a fine freedom in her large blue eyes.

She was a wonderful amazon, and had once raced old Lord Bilton on her pony twice round Hyde park, winning by a length and a half, just in front of the Achilles statue, to the huge delight of the young Duke of Cheshire, who proposed to her on the spot, and was sent back to Eton that very night by his guardians, in floods of tears.

After Virginia came the twins, who were usually called The Stars and Stripes, as they were always getting swished. They were delightful boys, and with the exception of the worthy Ambassador the only true republicans of the family.

As Canterville Chase is seven miles from Ascot, the nearest railway station, Mr Otis had telegraphed for a waggonette to meet them, and they started on their drive in high spirits.

It was a lovely July evening, and the air was delicate with the scent of the pinewoods. Now and then they heard a wood pigeon brooding over its own sweet voice, or saw, deep in the ferns, the shining feathers of a pheasant.