_espionage_ of the past, and for two or
three little games blocked, and I think I see my way clearly to wiping
them out at last. A thousand thanks my charming little nurse." Aloud to
Norine, entering with pipe and pipe-light:

"What should I ever do without you?"

Mr. Gilbert, escorted by Aunt Hester, reached the stable, where Uncle
Reuben stood busily curry-combing Kitty.

"I want to speak half-a-dozen words in private to you, Kent," the
lawyer began, abruptly enough. "You will tell your good sister here at
your convenience, if you see fit. You must excuse my seeming rudeness,
Miss Kent, and say good-by, now."

He shook hands with her cordially, and watched her out of sight. Then he
turned to her brother.

"We are quite alone?" he asked.

"Quite, squire. Take a seat."

He brought forward a stool, but Mr. Gilbert waved it away.

"No, no, what I have to say will take but a minute, and then I shall be
going. I want to speak to you of that young man who is your
guest--Laurence Thorndyke."

"Wal, squire."

"You have not known me very long, Mr. Kent, but I think, I hope, you
have known me long enough to trust me, to believe what I say, to
understand I have no selfish motive. It is for"--he paused a moment--"it
is for your niece's sake I speak, you can hardly take a deeper interest
in her welfare than I do."

Was there ever so slight a tremor in the grave, steady voice, or did
Reuben Kent only fancy it? He paused in Kitty's toilet and looked at him
keenly.

"Wal, squire?" he said again.

"Laurence Thorndyke is no fit, no safe companion for your niece. He is
not a good man, he is as false as he is fascinating. She is only
seventeen, she knows nothing of the world, nothing of such men as he,
and believe me, Kent, it won't do."

Reuben Kent looked up, a sudden flash in his eye, a sudden redness in
his face.

"Go on," he said, curtly.

"I am afraid Miss Bourdon cares more for him already than--" He paused
again and averted his face. "You know what I mean. He is handsome, and
she is only a girl. She will grow to love him, and he could not marry
her if he would, he is already engaged, and unless I mistake him
greatly, would not if he could. Mr. Kent, this young man will go away,
and Norine will be neither the better nor the happier for his coming."

His voice was husky. Something of the pain he felt was in his face. The
farmer stretched forth and caught the lawyer's hand in a hard grip.

"Thanky, squire," h