"So do I, Tyrrel."

"I am so glad. When shall we go? It is now the twenty-eighth of
September."

"Are you very weary of Rawdon Court"'

"Yes. If a man could live for the sake of eating and sleeping and having
a pleasant time, why Rawdon Court would be a heaven to him; but if he
wants to DO something with his life, he would be most unhappy here."

"And you want to do something?"

"You would not have loved a man who did not want TO DO. We have been
here four months. Think of it! If I take four months out of every year
for twenty years, I shall lose, with travel, about seven years of
my life, and the other things to be dropped with them may be of
incalculable value."

"I see, Tyrrel. I am not bound in any way to keep Rawdon Court. I can
sell it to-morrow."

"But you would be grieved to do so?"

"Not at all. Being a lady of the Manor does not flatter me. The other
squires would rather have a good man in my place."

"Why did you buy it?"

"As I have told you, to keep Mostyn out, and to keep a Rawdon here. But
Nicholas Rawdon craves the place, and will pay well for his desire. It
cost me eighty thousand pounds. He told father he would gladly give me
one hundred thousand pounds whenever I was tired of my bargain. I will
take the hundred thousand pounds to-morrow. There would then be four
good heirs to Rawdon on the place."

Here the conversation was interrupted by Mrs. Nicholas, who came to
invite them to the christening feast of the twins. Tyrrel soon left the
ladies together, and Ethel at once opened the desired conversation.

"I am afraid we may have left the Court before the christening," she
said. "Mr. Rawdon is very unhappy here. He is really homesick."

"But this is his home, isn't it? And a very fine one."

"He cannot feel it so. He has large interests in America. I doubt if
I ever induce him to come here again. You see, this visit has been our
marriage trip."

"And you won't live here! I never heard the line. What will you do with
the Court? It will be badly used if it is left to servants seven or
eight months every year."

"I suppose I must sell it. I see no----"

"If you only would let Nicholas buy it. You might be sure then it would
be well cared for, and the little lads growing up in it, who would
finally heir it. Oh, Ethel, if you would think of Nicholas first. He
would honor the place and be an honor to it."

Out of this conversation the outcome was as satisfactory as it was
certain,