is of opinion, from what
I told him of these papers, that your case is a strong one; and
that though, if I chose, I might give you a great deal of trouble,
he thinks that in the long run you would succeed. As I don't want
to give you trouble; and as I am, myself, as completely convinced
that you are my brother Harry's son as that I am his brother, the
matter may now be considered as finally settled."

"Quite so, uncle. I don't want to hear anything more about it. If
you choose to be obstinate, and turn out, I can only say that I
shall be sorry that the old house, where my father and you were
both born, should go to wreck and ruin. At any rate, let the matter
rest, for the present. Possibly it may yet be arranged to the
satisfaction of all parties."

"It will certainly not be arranged to my satisfaction," the squire
grumbled, "unless you become master here."

"We will talk it over, in six months' time."

He related the conversation to his wife who, to his surprise,
looked pleased.

"Nothing could be better," she said; "it would be an excellent
plan."

"What on earth do you mean, Louisa?"

"You are as blind as an owl, Peter. There can be only one meaning
in what he has said, only one arrangement that could be
satisfactory to all parties."

"And what is that, my dear?" the squire said, a little testily.

"I mean, of course, that he should marry Mary."

The squire sat down suddenly, in his surprise.

"Such an idea never entered my head," he said. "But why should you
think of it? Why, the young fellow has only been here four or five
days!"

"That is quite long enough for him to see that Mary is a charming
girl," Mrs. Lindsay said. "He has seen very little of ladies; and
he is, no doubt, struck with the idea that she is an extremely nice
girl. I don't say that he is in love with her, yet; but quite
enough, perhaps, to foresee that, ere long, he will feel more
ardent than he does at present; and that it is the only arrangement
possible, since we are determined to turn out for him.

"Now mind, Peter, you do not throw out the slightest hint, either
to him or to her, that such a solution has ever occurred to us. It
might spoil everything. It would make Mary shy with him, and might
cause him to be awkward. You give your consent to remain here, for
six months. By that time the question will have solved itself. If I
am wrong, no harm will have been done. If I am right, the
arrangement will be, as he says, a satis