ing
down the tree; and then I get up and look out of the loft window--you'll
mind the window over the stables, as looks into the garden, all covered
over wi' the leaves of the jargonelle pear-tree? That were my room when
first I come as stable-boy, and tho' Mr. Osbaldistone would fain give me
a warmer one, I allays tell him I like th' old place best. And by times
I've getten up five or six times a-night to make sure as there was no one
at work under the tree."

Ellinor shivered a little. He saw it, and restrained himself in the
relief he was receiving from imparting his superstitious fancies.

"You see, missy, I could never rest a-nights if I didn't feel as if I
kept the secret in my hand, and held it tight day and night, so as I
could open my hand at any minute and see as it was there. No! my own
little missy will let me come and see her now and again, and I know as I
can allays ask her for what I want: and if it please God to lay me by, I
shall tell her so, and she'll see as I want for nothing. But somehow I
could ne'er bear leaving Hamley. You shall come and follow me to my
grave when my time comes."

"Don't talk so, please, Dixon," said she.

"Nay, it'll be a mercy when I can lay me down and sleep in peace: though
I sometimes fear as peace will not come to me even there." He was going
out of the room, and was now more talking to himself than to her. "They
say blood will out, and if it weren't for her part in it, I could wish
for a clear breast before I die."

She did not hear the latter part of this mumbled sentence. She was
looking at a letter just brought in and requiring an immediate answer. It
was from Mr. Brown. Notes from him were of daily occurrence, but this
contained an open letter the writing of which was strangely familiar to
her--it did not need the signature "Ralph Corbet," to tell her whom the
letter came from. For some moments she could not read the words. They
expressed a simple enough request, and were addressed to the auctioneer
who was to dispose of the rather valuable library of the late Mr. Ness,
and whose name had been advertised in connection with the sale, in the
_Athenaeum_, and other similar papers. To him Mr. Corbet wrote, saying
that he should be unable to be present when the books were sold, but that
he wished to be allowed to buy in, at any price decided upon, a certain
rare folio edition of _Virgil_, bound in parchment, and with notes in
Italian. The book was fully