going to be."

"Well, I can't exactly tell you that," returned Miss Lillycrop, "but I
can tell you that he has had a rise in the Post-Office Savings Bank,
with an increase of salary, and that May declines to marry Aspel unless
he agrees to live with her mother in the cottage at Nottinghill. Of
course Aspel has consented--all the more that it is conveniently
situated near to a station whence he can easily reach the field of his
missionary labours."

"Does he intend to continue these now that he is rich?" asked Miss
Stivergill.

"How can you ask such a question?" replied her friend, with a slightly
offended look. "Aspel is not a man to be easily moved from his purpose.
He says he will labour in the good cause, and devote health and means
to it as long as God permits."

"Good!" exclaimed Miss Stivergill with a satisfied nod.--"Now, Lilly,"
she added, with the decision of tone and manner peculiar to her, "I mean
to make some arrangements. The farmer next to me has a very pretty
villa, as you are aware, on the brow of the hill that overlooks the
whole country in the direction of London. It is at present to let. Mr
Blurt must take it. Beside it stands a cottage just large enough for a
new-married couple. I had already rented that cottage for a poor
friend. He, however, knows nothing about the matter. I will therefore
have him put somewhere else, and sub-let the cottage to Mr and Mrs
Pax. Lastly, you shall give up your insane notion of living alone, come
here, with all your belongings, and take up your abode with me for
ever."

"That's a long time, dear Maria," said Miss Lillycrop, with a little
smile.

"Not _too_ long, by any means, Lilly. Now, clear that rubbish off the
chair--it's well got rid of, I never liked the shape--go, put yourself
to rights, use one of my bonnets, and come out for a walk. To-morrow
you shall go into town and arrange with Pax and Blurt about the villa
and the cottage to the best of your ability. It's of no use attempting
to resist me, Lilly--tell them that--for in this affair I have made up
my mind that my will shall be law."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reader, what more need we add--except that Miss Stivergill's will did
eventually become law, because it happened to correspond with the wishes
of all concerned. It is due, also, to Solomon Flint to record that
after his long life of faithful service in the Post-Office he retired on