e the abstract the next morning, and at once went up to the Terrace.
He was hungry: he had left Mrs. Furze unwell, and, in his extreme good-
humour, had relented towards her. She had recovered, but did not mention
again the subject of Tom's discharge. He had ham with his tea, but it
was over sooner than usual, and he rose to depart.

"You are going early, father," said Catharine.

"Yes, my dear; it has been a busy day. I have been successful with my
tender for Mr. Eaton's improvements; iron has advanced; the navigation
has stopped; Castle, the blacksmith, has gone to smash; I have to go to a
trustees' meeting under that old Fothergill trust; and Jack in the
foundry has given notice to leave."

"When did you hear all this?"

"All within an hour after breakfast. I have been entirely occupied this
afternoon in directing Tom what to do, and I must be off to see that he
has carried out my instructions. What a coil it is! and yet I rather
like it."

Catharine reflected that her father did not seem to like it at dinner-
time, and went through the familiar operation of putting two and two
together. She accompanied him to the front gate, and as he passed out
she said--

"You have not given Tom notice?"

"No, my dear, not yet. It would be a little inconvenient at present. I
_could_ do without him easily, even now; but perhaps it will be better to
wait. Besides, he is a little more teachable after the talking-to I have
given him."

Mr. Furze signed his letters. He did not observe that many others, of
which he had not thought, remained to be written, and when Tom brought
them the next day he made no remark. The assumption was that he had
noticed the day before what remained to be done, saw that it was not
urgent, and consented to the delay. The curious thing was that he
assumed it to himself. It is a tact--not incredible to those who know
that nobody, not the most accomplished master in flattery, can humbug us
so completely as we can and do humbug ourselves--that Mr. Furze, ten
minutes after the letters were posted, was perfectly convinced that he
had foreseen the necessity of each one--that he had personally and
thoroughly controlled the whole day's operations, and that Tom had
performed the duties of a merely menial clerk. As he went home he
thought over Catharine's attitude with regard to Tom. She, in reality,
had been anxious to protect her father; but such a motive he could not be
expected to suggest t