es of trustee and guardian
conferred on me by the will of the late Roger Ingleton, Esquire.

"Yours, etcetera,

"Frank Armstrong."

"Humph!" growled the attorney. "I was afraid so. Well, well, it's not
my affair. The Squire knew my opinion, so my conscience is clear. An
adventurer, nothing less--a dangerous man. Don't like him! Well,
well!"

To do Mr Pottinger justice, this opinion of his was of no recent date.
Indeed, it was of as long standing as the tutor's first arrival at
Maxfield, eighteen months ago. It was one of the few matters on which
he and his late client had differed.

Calmly indifferent as to the effect of his communication on the lawyer,
Mr Armstrong was at that moment having an audience with his co-trustee
and mistress, Mrs Ingleton.

"Mr Armstrong," said she, "I hope for all our sakes you see your way to
accept the duties my dear husband requested of you."

"I have written to Mr Pottinger to notify my consent."

"I am so glad. I shall have to depend on you for so much. It will be
so good for Roger to have you with him. His father was always anxious
about him--most anxious. You know, Mr Armstrong," added she, "if there
is any--any question as to salary, or anything I can do to make your
position here comfortable, you must tell me. For Roger's sake I am
anxious you should be happy here."

"Thank you, madam. I am most comfortable," said Mr Armstrong, looking
anything but what he described himself. He had a detestation of
business interviews, and wished profoundly he was out of this.

"I am sure you will like Captain Oliphant," said the widow. "I have not
seen him for many years--indeed, since shortly after Roger was born; but
we have heard from him constantly, and Mr Ingleton had a high opinion
of him. He is a very distant cousin of mine, you know."

"So I understand."

"Poor fellow! his wife died quite young. His three children will be
quite grown up now, poor things. Well, thank you very much, Mr
Armstrong. I hope we shall always be good friends for dear Roger's
sake. Good-bye."

Roger, as may be imagined, had not waited a whole week before
ascertaining his tutor's intentions.

He had been a good deal staggered at first by his father's will, with
its curious provisions; but, amongst a great deal that was perplexing
and disappointing in it, he derived no little comfort from the fact that
Mr Armstrong was to be one of his legal protectors.

"I don't see, you k