CHAPTER VII.

RALPH IS TAKEN INTO CONFIDENCE.

LATE in the day, Luke Bradley, the steward, was coming through the old gate from the park, when he encountered Ralph Granby.

"Where are you off to, Bradley ?" said the young squire, stopping, "not far, I hope, for I want you to go with me tomorrow, to have a look at the birds in the Upfield cover? but you seemed rigged out for Exeter, at least."

"No," replied Bradley, "only for Orchard Farm. Mr. Rivers gives his sheepshearing feast to-night, and I am going to it."

"I wish you would take me with you," cried Ralph, eagerly, "I was never at a sheepshearing, and should enjoy it ex

tremely; I daresay Rivers would make me welcome."

"I am sure of that," rejoined Bradley in a musing tone, "and no doubt it would please the mistress too, and maybe it would do good for me. To tell you the truth, though this is a merry-making, I am going to it on a serious business. You've heard of my notion of taking a wife ?"

Ralph Granby slightly paused before he replied.

"I hear it now," he said, "and it isn't a bad notion, as you are setting up for a farm, where a lady is both useful and ornamental."

"Perhaps you will think this lady too ornamental," returned Bradley; "but I have known you from a boy, and we have always been friends, so I believe you won't laugh at me if I don't get her."

"I should rather sympathise with you. But is there any doubt of your success ?"

"She is very young, you see, and she mayn't perceive the advantages of the match, and may think of doing better. I can't say

she has ever shown a liking for me-any more than just being friendly; and Mr. Rivers

"Is it Letty-I mean Miss Rivers ?" cried Ralph, interrupting him, and with dif ficulty repressing a start.

Well, it is Letty," answered Bradley, deliberately. "What do you think of my

chance ?"

"Of that I can form no opinion till I have seen you together, but you must have some idea yourself. You have surely felt your way a little ?"

"Not exactly. I have thought to do it, once or twice, but just at the moment she has seemed to come on so cold, and I have shrunk back. You see, Master Ralph, I love her too much. If she denies me tonight, I believe I shall go mad."

Here the steward took off his hat and wiped his brow, bedewed by the fever of his mind.

"You mustn't take it so seriously," observed Ralph, with some agitation. "Remember there are plenty of girls in the

world, and as good fish in the sea, as ever came out of it."

"Not for me," answered Bradley. "But as you think of going to the shearing, you might say a word to her for me, and plead in my behalf what I couldn't urge for myself." This proposal was not so agreeable to Ralph.

"In love, no one can plead for another," he said: "it is everybody for himself. I mean," he added, hastily, "your cause will be best in your own hands, and the utmost I could promise is to try and learn how she is disposed towards you, before you speak for yourself."

say

"I will ask no more," said the steward. Well, we will send up to the house to

I shall not be in to dinner, and I can go on with you at once."

CHAPTER VIII.

THE SHEARERS' FEAST.

RALPH and Bradley were the last guests to arrive at the farm, where, introduced to the drawing-room, they found, in addition to the family, Mr. Wingfield, the Pastor, Harry Clayton, and Letty's particular friend, Alice Mead, the daughter of the Chesney apothecary. The Pastor was a plain, quiet man, bronzed by the suns of lands in which he had toiled as missionary, and though he was something short of thirty, was so aged by habits of study, as to have the look of the decade beyond. After attaining his degree at Cambridge, and taking holy orders, he had, on conscientious scruples, left the Church to join the Congregationalists; and possessing a comfortable patrimony, was