t Yordas Carnaby to explain what has brought
him into such humble quarters, and induced him to turn eavesdropper;
which was not considered (at least in my young days) altogether the part
of a gentleman."

The youth had not seen quite enough of the world to be pat with a
fertile lie as yet; especially under such searching eyes. However, he
did as much as could be well expected.

"I was just looking over my property," he said, "and I thought I heard
somebody cutting down my timber. I came to see who it was, and I heard
people talking, and before I could ask them about it, I heard myself
abused disgracefully; and that was more than I could stand."

"We must take it for granted that a brave young gentleman of your
position would tell no falsehood. You assure us, on your honor, that you
heard no more?"

"Well, I heard voices, sir. But nothing to understand, or make head or
tail of." There was some truth in this; for young Lancelot had not the
least idea who "Sir Duncan" was. His mother and aunt had kept him wholly
in the dark as to any lost uncle in India. "I should like to know what
it was," he added, "if it has anything to do with me."

This was a very clever hit of his; and it made the old gentleman believe
him altogether.

"All in good time, my young friend," he answered, even with a smile of
some pity for the youth. "But you are scarcely old enough for business
questions, although so keen about your timber. Now after abusing you so
disgracefully, as I admit that my friend here has done, and after roping
your pugnacious hands, as I myself was obliged to do, we never can
launch you upon the moor, in such weather as this, without some food.
You are not very strong, and you have overdone yourself. Let us go to
the house, and have something."

Jack of the Smithies showed alacrity at this, as nearly all old soldiers
must; but Pet was much oppressed with care, and the intellect in his
breast diverged into sore distraction of anxious thought. Whether should
he draw the keen sword of assurance, put aside the others, and see
Insie, or whether should he start with best foot foremost, scurry up the
hill, and avoid the axe of Maunder? Pallas counselled this course, and
Aphrodite that; and the latter prevailed, as she always used to do,
until she produced the present dry-cut generation.

Lancelot bowed to the gentleman of the gill, and followed him along the
track of grit, which set his little pearly teeth on edge; while Jac