"I heard so, Mr. Granby, but I haven't seen him yet," replied Bradley.

"I didn't intend him to return at present, and I wrote to tell him to visit the East, but he moved at such a pace that he was back here almost as soon as I dispatched my letter."

"Mr. Ralph was always nimble, and doesn't let the grass grow under his feet."

An opening for a magisterial joke here presented itself to Mr. Granby.

"Not much grass where he was, Bradley," be said. "His feet have been in slippery places on the glaciers."

"That is true: but there are slippery places everywhere, Mr. Granby."

The Squire's face lengthened.

"Have you any reason to suppose there is one here, and that my nephew has put his foot in it?" he inquired.

"None whatever," answered Bradley.

Mr. Granby breathed more freely.

"And how do you get on with your own affair?" he said. "I think I have been

doing you some service with the young person herself."

Bradley opened his eyes at this announce

ment.

"I happened to meet her," explained the Squire, "and I used the opportunity to show her that I took a warm interest in you. I hope what I said may have a good effect. Indeed, she promised me to think it over."

'Then you have truly done me a service -a most kind one, Mr. Granby."

"And how have you got on yourself? Did you speak to her father, and tell him about the farm ?"

No, but I told Mrs. Rivers."

"Ah! that was better."

Yes, she is a good Christian woman. "She is a woman, and that is enough, where there is a bit of match-making to do. As far as you are concerned, it doesn't signify a straw whether she is a Christian or a heathen."

"Nay, Mr. Granby, I could have no fellowship with the ungodly."

Then you must eschew womankind, the whole pack," exclaimed Mr. Granby, his face turning crimson.

Bradley had often been struck by the Squire's disparagement of the sex, but this outburst took him by surprise.

"I tell you, if you want to succeed with them," continued the Squire,

hold a candle to the devil."

you must

"I defy the devil and all his works," exclaimed Bradley.

"Be it so, if you think you can get on without him," returned Mr. Granby, “I simply state my opinion, and now I will take Mrs. Rivers at your estimate, as a good Christian woman. That won't prevent her giving due weight to the prospect of keeping the farm, I presume ?"

She was my friend before, but that enabled her to speak more strongly in my behalf."

And what is the result ?"

"That is yet to be seen, but Mrs. Rivers spoke hopefully to me, and I am to have an answer in a couple of days."

Mr. Granby gave a little start. A couple of days was the exact reprieve he had conceded to Ralph, the term for which Ralph

himself stipulated.

The coincidence was

singular. Could Ralph be in communication with Letty, concerting some scheme which was to take effect in this time, and throw both himself and Bradley over?

Mr.

"Is it possible that she may be carrying on with somebody else, do you think?" he said. "These girls are as deep as-" Granby was about to make a strong comparison, but remembering what he deemed Bradley's prejudices, he fell off a few points, 'as deep as a well. Have you ever noticed anyone dangling after her ?"

"I have thought she was beloved by the young man you pointed out to me, the artist, but I believe I was misled."

The Squire's mind had been so occupied with Ralph and Letty, that he forgot all about Harry, and Bradley was obliged to enter into particulars to bring him to his remembrance.

"And I think you said this young fellow is staying at Berry Pomeroy?" Mr. Granby remarked, his thoughts now turned into another channel.

Bradley replied in the affirmative.

"I should like you to find out something more about him," resumed the Squire, gravely. "As to your own affair, I suppose we must wait a couple of days, since that is insisted on. But I will state my opinion, and it is this: you should keep a watch on the house, so that nobody may go in without your knowing who they are, and nobody pass out without your seeing where they go to."

Here Mr. Granby took up Dugdale again, and resumed his task of turning over the leaves, persevering therein, till Bradley left

the room.

Then he laid down the volume,

and fell into a meditation.

VOL. I.

18