nd for you without
me if I go, to make all things clear and square and free while the
bairns are little, than when they have to go to school and college,
or perhaps want to get married."

"Ain't we counting our chickens before they are hatched?" said Ralph
laughing.

When they parted for the night, which they did not do till after the
Squire had slept for an hour on his chair, there was one other speech
made,--a speech which Ralph was likely to remember to the latest day
of his life. His father had taken his candlestick in his right hand,
and had laid his left upon his son's collar. "Ralph," said he, "for
the first time in my life I can look you in the face, and not feel a
pang of remorse. You will understand it when you have a son of your
own. Good-night, my boy." Then he hurried off without waiting to hear
a word, if there was any word that Ralph could have spoken.

On the next morning they were both out early at Darvell's farm,
surrounded by bricklayers and carpenters, and before the week was
over the work was in progress. Poor Darvell, half elated and half
troubled, knew but little of the cause of this new vehemence.
Something we suppose he did know, for the news was soon spread over
the estate that the Squire had bought out Mr. Ralph, and that this
other Mr. Ralph was now to be Mr. Ralph the heir. That the old butler
should not be told,--the butler who had lived in the house when the
present Squire was a boy,--was out of the question; and though the
communication had been made in confidence, the confidence was not
hermetical. The Squire after all was glad that it should be so. The
thing had to be made known,--and why not after this fashion? Among
the labourers and poor there was no doubt as to the joy felt. That
other Mr. Ralph, who had always been up in town, was unknown to them,
and this Mr. Ralph had ever been popular with them all. With the
tenants the feeling was perhaps more doubtful. "I wish you joy, Mr.
Newton, with all my heart," said Mr. Walker, who was the richest and
the most intelligent among them. "The Squire has worked for you like
a man, and I hope it will come to good."

"I will do my best," said Ralph.

"I am sure you will. There will be a feeling, you know. You mustn't
be angry at that."

"I understand," said Ralph.

"You won't be vexed with me for just saying so." Ralph promised that
he would not be vexed, but he thought very much of what Mr. Walker
had said to him. After all, such a p