andlord would
not be pleased to see him here. He sent one of Sir John's best shepherds
out of the country, after filling his head with ideas above his station.
I heard Sir John speak very warmly about it last Sunday."

"Mayhap you did, Muster Fairholme. I have a lease of this land--and
gravelly, poor stuff it is--and I am no ways beholden to Sir John's
likings and dislikings. A very good thing too for Sir John that I have
a lease, for there ain't a man in the country 'ud tak' a present o' the
farm if it was free to-morrow. And what's a' more, though that young man
do talk foolish things about the rights of farm laborers and such-like
nonsense, if Sir John was to hear him layin' it down concernin' rent
and improvements, and the way we tenant farmers is put upon, p'raps he'd
speak warmer than ever next Sunday."

And Wickens, with a smile expressive of his sense of having retorted
effectively upon the parson, nodded and walked away.

Just then Agatha, skating hand in hand with Jane Carpenter, heard these
words in her ear: "I have something very funny to tell you. Don't look
round."

She recognized the voice of Smilash and obeyed.

"I am not quite sure that you will enjoy it as it deserves," he
added, and darted off again, after casting an eloquent glance at Miss
Carpenter.

Agatha disengaged herself from her companion, made a circuit, and passed
near Smilash, saying: "What is it?"

Smilash flitted away like a swallow, traced several circles around
Fairholme, and then returned to Agatha and proceeded side by side with
her.

"I have read the letter you wrote to Hetty," he said.

Agatha's face began to glow. She forgot to maintain her balance, and
almost fell.

"Take care. And so you are not fond of me--in the romantic sense?"

No answer. Agatha dumb and afraid to lift her eyelids.

"That is fortunate," he continued, "because--good evening, Miss Ward; I
have done nothing but admire your skating for the last hour--because
men were deceivers ever; and I am no exception, as you will presently
admit."

Agatha murmured something, but it was unintelligible amid the din of
skating.

"You think not? Well, perhaps you are right; I have said nothing to you
that is not in a measure true. You have always had a peculiar charm for
me. But I did not mean you to tell Hetty. Can you guess why?"

Agatha shook her head.

"Because she is my wife."

Agatha's ankles became limp. With an effort she kept upright until she
rea