"Will Somers. Do you make so many people happy that your reminiscence of
them is lost in their number?"

Travers smiled faintly, and shook his head.

Kenelm went on. "I have also seen Mrs. Bowles, and you will be pleased
to hear that Tom is satisfied with his change of abode: there is no
chance of his returning to Graveleigh; and Mrs. Bowles took very kindly
to my suggestion that the little property you wish for should be sold
to you, and, in that case, she would remove to Luscombe to be near her
son."

"I thank you much for your thought of me," said Travers, "and the affair
shall be seen to at once, though the purchase is no longer important to
me. I ought to have told you three days ago, but it slipped my memory,
that a neighbouring squire, a young fellow just come into his property,
has offered to exchange a capital farm, much nearer to my residence,
for the lands I hold in Graveleigh, including Saunderson's farm and the
cottages: they are quite at the outskirts of my estate, but run into
his, and the exchange will be advantageous to both. Still I am glad that
the neighbourhood should be thoroughly rid of a brute like Tom Bowles."

"You would not call him brute if you knew him; but I am sorry to hear
that Will Somers will be under another landlord."

"It does not matter, since his tenure is secured for fourteen years."

"What sort of man is the new landlord?"

"I don't know much of him. He was in the army till his father died,
and has only just made his appearance in the county. He has, however,
already earned the character of being too fond of the other sex: it is
well that pretty Jessie is to be safely married."

Travers then relapsed into a moody silence from which Kenelm found it
difficult to rouse him. At length the latter said kindly,--

"My dear Mr. Travers, do not think I take a liberty if I venture to
guess that something has happened this morning which troubles or vexes
you. When that is the case, it is often a relief to say what it is, even
to a confidant so unable to advise or to comfort as myself."

"You are a good fellow, Chillingly, and I know not, at least in these
parts, a man to whom I would unburden myself more freely. I am put out,
I confess; disappointed unreasonably, in a cherished wish, and," he
added, with a slight laugh, "it always annoys me when I don't have my
own way."

"So it does me."

"Don't you think that George Belvoir is a very fine young man?"

"Certainly."

"_I