himself,
as a botanist."

"Shir," observed Reilly, "the young lady is underwaluin' herself; sure,
miss, it was yourself directed me what to do, and how to do it."

"Look at that old chap, Helen," said her father, who felt in great good
humor; first, because he found that Helen was safe; and again, because
Sir Robert, as the unsuspecting old man thought, had cleared up the
circumstances of Miss Herbert's imposture; "I say, Helen, look at that
old chap: isn't he a nice bit of goods to run away with a pretty girl?
and what a taste she must have had to go with him! Upon my soul, it
beats cock-fighting--confound me, but it does."

[Illustration PAGE 115--Isn't he a nice bit of goods to run away with a
pretty girl?]

Helen's face became crimson as he spoke; and yet, such was the
ludicrous appearance which Reilly made, when put in connection with the
false scent on which her father was proceeding at such a rate, and the
act of gallantry imputed to him, that a strong feeling of humor overcame
her, and she burst into a loud ringing laugh, which she could not, for
some time, restrain; in this she was heartily joined by her father, who
laughed till the tears came down his cheeks.

"And yet, Helen--ha--ha--ha, he's a stalwart old rogue still, and must
have been a devil of a tyke when he was young."

After another fit of laughter from both father and daughter, the squire
said:

"Now, Helen, my love, go in. I have good news for you, which I will
acquaint you with by and by."

When she left the garden, her father addressed Reilly as follows:

"Now, my good fellow, will you tell me how you came to know about Miss
Herbert having been seduced by Sir Robert Whitecraft?"

"Fvhy, shir, from common report, shir."

"Is that all? But don't you think," he replied, "that common report is
a common liar, as it mostly has been, and is, in this case. That's all
I have to say upon the subject. I have traced the affair, and find it
to be a falsehood from beginning to ending. I have. And now, go on as
you're doing, and I will make Malcomson raise your wages."

"Thank you, shir," and he touched his nondescript with an air of great
thankfulness and humility.

"Helen, my darling," said her father, on entering her own sitting-room,
"I said I had good news for you."

Helen looked at him with a doubtful face, and simply said, "I hope it is
good, papa."

"Why, my child, I won't enter into particulars; it is enough to say that
I discovered