muttered the ruffian, as Anthony entered
the house. "If Bill Mathews does not soon pull you down from your high
horse, may his limbs rot in a jail." And calling to an ugly black cur,
that was prowling round the garden, and whose physiognomy greatly
resembled his own, the poacher slunk off.

"Anthony," said Frederic Wildegrave, as his cousin, in no very gentle
mood, entered the house, "unexpected business calls me away for some
weeks to a distant county. You must make yourself as comfortable as you
can during my absence. Clary will do the honors of the house. By-the-by,
I have just received four hundred pounds for the sale of the big marsh.
I have not time to deposit the money in the bank; but will you see to it
some time during the week. There is the key of my desk. You will find
the money and the banker's book in the second drawer. And now, Clary,
don't look so grave, but give me a kiss, and wish me back."

"I don't think that you will have any," said Clary flinging her arms
round his neck. "My heart fills with gloom at the thought of your going
away--and so suddenly."

"I shall come back as soon as I possibly can. What in tears. Silly
child!"

"Don't go, dear Fred."

"Nonsense! Business must not be neglected."

"Something tells me that this journey is not for good."

"Dear Clary, I could quarrel with you for these superstitious fears.
Farewell, my own darling--and joy be with you."

Kissing again and again the tears from Clarissa's cheek, and shaking
Anthony warmly by the hand, the young master of the mansion sprang to
his saddle and was gone, leaving Anthony and Clary to amuse themselves
in the best manner they could.

"You must not forget, Anthony, that Fred has left you his banker. He is
so generous that the money will be safer in your hands than in his own."

Anthony laughed, and put the key of the desk into his pocket. What to
him was the money? had it been four thousand, or forty thousand, he
would not, in all probability have given it a second thought.

The next morning Clary was seriously indisposed, and her cousin took his
breakfast alone. After making many anxious inquiries about her, and
being assured by old Ruth that she only required rest to be quite well
again, he retired to Frederic's study; and taking up a volume of a new
work that was just out, he was soon buried in its contents.

A loud altercation in the passage, between some person who insisted upon
seeing Mr. Hurdlestone and old Ruth