g seen her gaze upon
any one save myself in that fashion, which was with her very winning,
especially where some of her contralto tones of remonstrance or entreaty
aided it, I felt as a man does at a neighbour's shadow cast over his
rights of property.

Heriot dropped to the rear: I was glad to leave her with Temple, and
glad to see them canter ahead together on the sand of tie heaths.

'She has done it,' Heriot burst out abruptly. 'She has done it!' he
said again. 'Upon my soul, I never wished in my life before that I was
a marrying man: I might have a chance of ending worth something. She
has won the squire round with a thundering fib, and you're to have the
German if you can get her. Don't be in a hurry. The squire 'll speak to
you to-night: but think over it. Will you? Think what a girl this is.
I believe on my honour no man ever had such an offer of a true woman.
Come, don't think it's Heriot speaking--I've always liked her, of
course. But I have always respected her, and that's not of course.
Depend upon it, a woman who can be a friend of men is the right sort
of woman to make a match with. Do you suppose she couldn't have a dozen
fellows round her at the lift of her finger? the pick of the land! I'd
trust her with an army. I tell you, Janet Ilchester 's the only girl
alive who'll double the man she marries. I don't know another who
wouldn't make the name of wife laugh the poor devil out of house and
company. She's firm as a rock; and sweet as a flower on it! Will that
touch you? Bah! Richie, let's talk like men. I feel for her because
she's fond of you, and I know what it is when a girl like that sets her
heart on a fellow. There,' he concluded, 'I 'd ask you to go down on
your knees and pray before you decide against her!'

Heriot succeeded in raising a certain dull indistinct image in my mind
of a well-meaning girl, to whom I was bound to feel thankful, and felt
so. I thanked Heriot, too, for his friendly intentions. He had never
seen the Princess Ottilia. And at night I thanked my grandfather. He
bore himself, on the whole, like the good and kindly old gentleman
Janet loved to consider him. He would not stand in my light, he said,
recurring to that sheet-anchor of a tolerant sentence whenever his
forehead began to gather clouds. He regretted that Janet was no better
than her sex in her preference for rakes, and wished me to the deuce
for bringing Heriot into the house, and not knowing when I was lucky.
'Ger