things of antiquity. He
was remarkably well read in the history of his own country, and it
had been understood for the last twenty years by the Antiquarian,
Archaeological, and other societies that he was the projector of a new
theory about Stonehenge, and that his book on the subject was almost
ready. Such were the two surviving members of the present senior
branch of the family. But Sir Gregory had two brothers,--the younger
of the two being Parson John Marrable, the present rector of St.
Peter's Lowtown and the occupier of the house within the heavy
slate-coloured gates, where he lived a bachelor life, as had done
before him his cousin the late rector;--the elder being a certain
Colonel Marrable. The Colonel Marrable again had a son, who was a
Captain Walter Marrable,--and after him the confused reader shall be
introduced to no more of the Marrable family. The enlightened reader
will have by this time perceived that Miss Mary Lowther and Captain
Walter Marrable were second cousins; and he will also have perceived,
if he has given his mind fully to the study, that the present Parson
John Marrable had come into the living after the death of a cousin of
the same generation as himself,--but of lower standing in the family.
It was so; and by this may be seen how little the Sir Gregory of the
present day had been able to do for his brother, and perhaps it may
also be imagined from this that the present clergyman at Loring
Lowtown had been able to do very little for himself. Nevertheless,
he was a kindly-hearted, good, sincere old man,--not very bright,
indeed, nor peculiarly fitted for preaching the gospel, but he was
much liked, and he kept a curate, though his income out of the
living was small. Now it so happened that Captain Marrable,--Walter
Marrable,--came to stay with his uncle the parson about the same time
that Mary Lowther returned to Loring.

"You remember Walter, do you not?" said Miss Marrable to her niece.

"Not the least in the world. I remember there was a Walter when I was
at Dunripple. But that was ten years ago, and boy cousins and girl
cousins never fraternise."

"I suppose he was nearly a young man then, and you were a child?"

"He was still at school, though just leaving it. He is seven years
older than I am."

"He is coming to stay with Parson John."

"You don't say so, aunt Sarah? What will such a man as Captain
Marrable do at Loring?"

Then aunt Sarah explained all that she knew, and perh