oxen.

"And the company will take the timber off his hands, I suppose," said
she. "Only it's likely Jacob will be pretty much the company himself--
at least he will have most to say in it. He most generally does."

"But it seems to me that Jacob should not have undertaken so much
without consulting me," said the squire, with some excitement. "It
seems to me he's going ahead pretty fast, isn't he?"

"Oh! he's told you all about it, I expect. You've forgotten. Your
memory isn't what it once was, you know."

But the squire was inclined to resent the idea that he could have
forgotten a matter of such importance, and though Mrs Jacob assured him
that his son had gone away for the day to Fosbrooke, it was all that his
daughter could do to prevent him from going in search of him. She
almost regretted not permitting him to go, however, for he would not
leave the subject, and insisted on Mrs Jacob telling him all about the
matter. She, with less sense and more malice than Elizabeth could have
supposed possible, went on to tell of what was to be done, and went over
the old grievance as to Mr Fleming's obstinacy in refusing to come to
terms for a piece of land which was the best for the mill-site, and good
for very little else, "just to spite Jacob."

"We won't talk about that," said the squire, seeming to forget the first
cause of grievance. "Jacob knows my mind about that matter. And it is
doubtful whether the company they talk about will ever amount to much--
at least for a time."

"Well, it isn't for me to say. But I must go. They'll think at home
that I am lost," and as she rose and pushed away her chair, she added in
a voice that the squire could not hear, "It is not for me to say much
about it. But Jacob generally does get things fixed pretty much to his
mind, and I guess he sees his way clear to get this as well. Of course
it will be just as much for Mr Fleming's benefit as for the rest of the
town, and his land will be paid for, he needn't fear that."

At the first mention of her grandfather's name, Katie had risen, and she
was standing with burning cheeks and shining eyes when Mrs Jacob turned
toward her to say good-bye.

"I hope you'll come and make me a visit before you go home. If Lizzie
can spare you I shall be pleased to have you come any day--say
to-morrow. Will you come?"

"No," said Katie, and then she sat down and put her book to her face
lest Mrs Jacob should see the angry tears which