lcolm opened
his lips--"but wait a moment and let me finish first. Of course I know
nothing of farming, and Harry knows precious little either; but he has
a good bailiff whom he can trust, and whose wife manages the dairy.
What I am going to propose is this, that Harry and I should go to the
Agricultural College at Cirencester for a few months and get an idea of
the business; and then, if Dinah would start me with a good round sum
we could begin to get the place in order. I have set my heart on it,
Herrick," and here Cedric's voice was very persuasive, "and I want you
to come down and talk it out with her, like the good fellow you are."

"I will come, of course," returned Malcolm slowly, "and on the whole I
am inclined to approve of your plan; but I do not think we can decide
anything in this off-hand way. I think the best thing would be for us
to reconnoitre the place, and perhaps Mr. Strickland could accompany
us. The bailiff could give us full particulars, and we might consult
Mr. Strickland's lawyer if we are in any difficulty."

And Cedric made no objection to this arrangement. They would go into
the thing properly, of course, and there was no need to hurry matters;
he only stipulated that Malcolm should come down and talk to Dinah
without delay. This Malcolm had already promised; and when Cedric went
to bed he felt assured that Malcolm's interest and sympathy were fully
enlisted on his behalf.

"It is a foregone conclusion as far as Dinah is concerned," he thought,
as he laid his head on his pillow. "Herrick can make her believe
anything he likes, she has such faith in him; he has only to say that
it is a capital plan, and that I shall make a first-rate farmer, and
she will be ready to take out her cheque-book at once."

Cedric went round to 27 Queen's Gate to pay his respects to the ladies
before he started for Staplegrove. Malcolm, who dined there that night,
was amused by his mother's openly-avowed admiration of their young
friend.

"Cedric Templeton is one of the most attractive-looking men I have ever
seen," she said in her most serious voice; "he is very much improved in
every way, and is altogether charming."

"I hope you agree with my mother, Anna?" observed Malcolm, laughing. "I
think Cedric's ears must be burning at the present moment." But Anna
only returned rather shyly that she thought Mr. Templeton looked
extremely well.

Malcolm had fixed his day, but he refused to state any hour for his
ar