rain-work while other people
are asleep.

"Snug enough so far," said he to himself, turning over on his side.
"The place will suit me after all. Capital table, easy-going hostess,
charming young Bohemian to amuse me, money going about, and all that.
Teddy wants stirring up. I shall have to flick him a bit. He'll go
well enough when he's once started, but he's wasting his time here
disgracefully. Eight months since he came, and absolutely nothing done!
The boy's not buried, the mother's not married, and the tutor's not had
his month's notice, (Like to see this precious tutor, by the way.) Upon
my honour, it's about time I came and opened shop here."

And with a grunt he got out of bed, and began to array himself
preparatory to a stroll round the park before breakfast.

It was a delicious September morning. The birds, hardly convinced that
the summer was over, were singing merrily in the trees. The hum of the
not distant ocean droned solemnly in the air. The sunlight played
fitfully with the gold of the harvest fields, and the lowing cattle in
the meadows added their music to nature's peaceful morning anthem.

Mr Ratman was only half alive to the beauties of nature. He was
considerably more impressed with the substantial masonry of the manor
house, with the size of the timber, the appointments of the stables, and
the acreage of the park. They all spelt money to him--suggesting a good
deal more behind.

"Teddy's certainly a man to be looked after," said he to himself. "He's
wasting his time scandalously. Yet he's clever in his way, is Edward.
He has tucked his family into the big bed snugly, and made the most of
his chance that way. Why--"

He had reached this pleasant stage in his reflections when something
darted round from a side-walk and collided with him suddenly.

It was Miss Jill, taking an early scamper with her dog, and little
dreaming that she was not, as usual, the sole occupant of the grounds.

"Hullo! my little lady," said Mr Ratman, recognising his enemy of
yesterday; "you nearly did for me that time. Come, you'll have to tell
me you are sorry, and beg my pardon very prettily."

"No, I won't!" exclaimed Jill, and proceeded to run.

Mr Ratman was not beyond a bit of fun himself; besides, he did not
quite like to be thus set down by a child of twelve. Therefore,
although his running days had passed their prime, he gave chase, and a
very exciting race ensued.

Jill, as fleet as the wi