her; but I think she likes me; and a man must be something worse
than a brute if he is not grateful for a pretty woman's regard."

They said no more about Mrs. Branston. Gilbert had a strong distaste for
the business; but he did not care to take upon himself the office of
mentor to a friend whose will he knew to be much stronger than his own,
and to whose domination he had been apt to submit in most things, as to
the influence of a superior mind. It disappointed him a little to find
that John Saltram was capable of making a mercenary marriage, capable
even of the greater baseness involved in the anticipation of a dead man's
shoes; but his heart was not easily to be turned against the chosen
friend of his youth, and he was prompt in making excuses for the line of
conduct he disapproved.

CHAPTER V.

HALCYON DAYS.

It was still quite early in September when Gilbert Fenton went back to
Lidford and took up his quarters once more in the airy chintz-curtained
bedchamber set apart for him in his sister's house. He had devoted
himself very resolutely to business during the interval that had gone by
since his last visit to that quiet country house; but the time had seemed
very long to him, and he fancied himself a kind of martyr to the
necessities of commerce. The aspect of his affairs of late had not been
quite free from unpleasantness. There were difficulties in the conduct of
business in the Melbourne branch of the house, that branch which was
under the charge of a cousin of Gilbert's, about whose business
capacities the late Mr. Fenton had entertained the most exalted opinion.

The Melbourne trading had not of late done much credit to this
gentleman's commercial genius. He had put his trust in firms that had
crumbled to pieces before the bills drawn upon them came due, involving
his cousin in considerable losses. Gilbert was rich enough to stand these
losses, however; and he reconciled himself to them as best he might,
taking care to send his Australian partner imperative instructions for a
more prudent system of trading in the future.

The uneasiness and vexation produced by this business was still upon him
when he went down to Lidford; but he relied upon Marian Nowell's presence
to dissipate all his care.

He did find himself perfectly happy in her society. He was troubled by no
doubts as to her affection for him, no uncertainty as to the brightness
of the days that were to come. Her manner seemed to him al