d you think of managing the property for me?'

He only answered by a quick interrogative glance.

'You see,' she continued, 'by the help of Brooks, who knew his master's
ways, I have pottered on, to my own wonderment; but Brooks is past work,
my downhill-time is coming, high farming has outrun us both, and I know
that we are not doing as Humfrey would wish by his inheritance. Now I
believe that nothing could be of greater use to me, the people, or the
place, than that you should be in charge. We could put some deputy under
your control, and contrive for your getting about the fields. I would
give you so much a year, so that your boy's education would be your own
doing, and we should be _so_ comfortable.'

Owen leant back, much moved, smiled and said, 'Thanks, dear Honor; you
are much too good to us.'

'Think about it, and tell me what would be right. Brooks has 100 pounds
a year, but you will be worth much more, for you will develop all the
resources, you know.'

'Best Honor, Sweetest Honey,' said Owen, hastily, the tears rising to his
eyes, 'I cannot bear to frustrate such kind plans, nor seem more
ungrateful than I have been already. I will not live on you for nothing
longer than I can help; but indeed, this must not be.'

'Not?'

'No. There are many reasons against it. In the first place, I know
nothing of farming.'

'You would soon learn.'

'And vex your dear old spirit with steam-ploughs and haymaking machines.'

She smiled, as if from him she could endure even steam.

'Next, such an administration would be highly distasteful here. My
overweening airs as a boy have not been forgotten, and I have always been
looked on as an interloper. Depend on it, poor old Brooks fancies the
muddle in his accounts was a suggestion of my malice! Imagine the
feelings of Hiltonbury, when I, his supplanter, begin to tighten the
reins.'

'If it be so, it can be got over,' said Honor, a little aghast.

'If it ought to be attempted,' said Owen; 'but you have not heard my
personal grounds for refusing your kindness. All your goodness and kind
teaching cannot prevent the undesirableness of letting my child grow up
here, in a half-and-half position, engendering domineering airs and
unreasonable expectations. You know how, in spite of your care and
warnings, it worked on me, though I had more advantages than that poor
little man. Dear Honor, it is not you, but myself that I blame. You did
your utmost to disabuse