were laid. What
was being done? The work seemed too extensive for a mere scheme of
drainage. Whatever the undertaking might be, it was now at a standstill,
seeing that old Mr. Mutimer, the owner of the land, had been in his
grave just three days, and no one as yet could say whether his heir
would or would not pursue this novel project. Mrs. Waltham herself felt
that the view was spoilt, though her appreciation of nature was not of
the keenest, and she would never have thought of objecting to a scheme
which would produce money at the cost of the merely beautiful.

'I scarcely think Hubert will continue it,' she was musing to
herself. 'He has enough without that, and his tastes don't lie in that
direction.'

She had on her lap a local paper, at which she glanced every now and
then; but her state of mind was evidently restless. The road on either
side of which stood the houses of the village led on to the Manor, and
in that direction Mrs. Waltham gazed frequently. The church clock chimed
half-past four, and shortly after a rosy-cheeked young girl came at
a quick step up the gravelled pathway which made the approach to the
Walthams' cottage. She saw Mrs. Waltham at the window, and, when she was
near, spoke.

'Is Adela at home?'

'No, Letty; she's gone for a walk with her brother.'

'I'm so sorry!' said the girl, whose voice was as sweet as her face was
pretty. 'We wanted her to come for croquet. Yet I was half afraid to
come and ask her whilst Mr. Alfred was at home.'

She laughed, and at the same time blushed a little.

'Why should you be afraid of Alfred?' asked Mrs. Waltham graciously.

'Oh, I don't know.'

She turned it off and spoke quickly of another subject.

'How did you like Mr. Wyvern this morning?'

It was a new vicar, who had been in Wanley but a couple of days, and had
this morning officiated for the first time at the church.

'What a voice he has!' was the lady's reply.

'Hasn't he? And such a hairy man! They say he's very learned; but his
sermon was very simple--didn't you think so?'

'Yes, I liked it. Only he pronounces certain words strangely.'

'Oh, has Mr. Eldon come yet?' was the young lady's next question.

'He hadn't arrived this morning. Isn't it extraordinary? He must be out
of England.'

'But surely Mrs. Eldon knows his address, and he can't be so very far
away.'

As she spoke she looked down the pathway by which she had come, and of a
sudden her face exhibited alarm.

'Oh,