climbed upward. But Drake did not sing, and his face was
gloomy.

Throughout that evening, Mrs. Lorton contributed to the entertainment of
her guest by admiring her bracelet and deploring his departure.

"Of course I am aware that you must be anxious to go," she said, with a
deep sigh. "It has been dull, I've no doubt, very dull; and I am so
sorry that the state of my health has prevented me going out and about
with you. There are so many places of interest in the neighborhood which
we could have visited; but I am sure you will make allowances for an
invalid. And we will hope that this is not your last visit to Shorne
Mills. I need not say that we shall be glad, delighted, indeed, at any
time----"

Every now and then Drake murmured his acknowledgments; but he made the
due responses absently. He was left entirely at Mrs. Lorton's mercy that
evening--for Nell had suddenly remembered that she ought really to go
and see old Brownie's mother, a lady whose age was set down at anything
between a hundred and a hundred and ten, and Dick was in his "workshop"
cleaning the new and spotless gun.

Nell did not come in till late, was full of Grandmother Brownie's
sayings and wonderfully maintained faculties, and ran off to bed very
soon, with a cheerful "Good night, Mr. Vernon. Dick has ordered the trap
for nine o'clock."

Drake got up early the next morning; there were the horses to be
arranged for--he was going to leave two behind, for a time, at any rate,
in the hope that Dick and Miss Nell might use them; and he had to say
good-by--and tip--sundry persons. He performed the latter operation on
so liberal a scale that amazement sat upon the bosom of many a man and
woman in Shorne Mills for months afterward. Molly, indeed, was so
overcome by the sight and feel of the crisp ten-pound note, and her face
grew so red and her eyes so prominent, that Drake was seriously afraid
that she was going to have a fit.

Nell had got up a few minutes after him, and had prepared his farewell
breakfast; but she was not present, and Mrs. Lorton presided. It was not
until the arrival of the trap that she came in hurriedly. She had her
outdoor things on, and explained that she had had to go to the farm to
order a fowl; and she was full of some story the farmer's wife had told
her--a story which had made her laugh, and still seemed to cause her so
much amusement that Mrs. Lorton felt compelled to remind her that Mr.
Vernon was going.

"Ah, yes!