ather, so he gave up his own plans
for the sake of the family. That seems to me very hard--to be unselfish
and take up uncongenial work, and then to meet with nothing but failure
and disappointment! I should expect to be rewarded by making piles of
money, but poor old Ned has lost almost all he has. Dear, sweet, kind
Mr Vanburgh, find him another opening--do!"

The old man smiled, and laid his worn fingers caressingly over the
girl's hand.

"I would do a great deal to please you, Nan, if I could find the way,
but my word is not so powerful as you imagine. I am afraid the managers
of the great factories would pay very little attention to my
recommendation; but if Mr Talbot is not set on continuing a business
life, it is possible that something else might be found. I have a good
deal of land which will come to Gervase in his turn, and meantime, as he
engages my stewards for me and takes in hand most of the arrangements,
you had better speak to him on the subject."

"Oh-oh!" cried Nan, and turned towards the young man with hands clasped
together in supplication. "Oh! do you--do you? Then one of them is a
bad steward, isn't he? I am sure he is! You want a new one; I am sure
you do! Ned would make a beauty, for he loves nothing so much as a
country life. He is a splendid shot. Jim saw him knock over twelve
rocketers running, last time they were out together, and he goes in for
all kinds of sport. His father had a beautiful country place when they
were rich, and he is always talking of what he used to do. He looks so
sweet in gaiters, too! He would make a lovely steward!"

Both men shook with laughter, but Nan's earnestness could not be shaken.
She was pleading for Maud's future, for Maud's happiness, and neither
ignorance nor bashfulness had power to check her. She insisted on the
wickedness of the present steward with such determination, that Gervase
was forced to come to his defence.

"Indeed, Nan, he is a most capable and clever fellow. I've not a word
to say against him, except that perhaps he is too clever to stay with us
much longer. Lord Edgeworth has been advertising for a steward, and I
think it more than likely that he will get the post. If he should--"

"He will! He will!" cried Nan excitedly. "I feel a conviction. He
will get it, and you will offer Ned his place. It would be defying
Providence to do anything else. Oh, how happy I am--how pleased he will
be! And is it a pretty house