at the cottage, but we can't do everything
now. I think we must give up the dairy, now that my sisters are gone.
I'll tell you what I have been thinking of, Pablo. We will make a large
enclosed place, to coax the ponies into during the winter, pick out as
many as we think are good, and sell them at Lymington. That will be
better than churning butter."

"Yes, I see; plenty of work for Pablo."

"And plenty for me, too, Pablo; but you know, when the enclosure is once
made, it will last for a long while; and we will get the wild cattle
into it if we can."

"Yes, I see," said Pablo. "I like that very much; only not like trouble
to build place."

"We shan't have much trouble, Pablo: if we fell the trees inside the
wood at each side, and let them lie one upon the other, the animals will
never break through them."

"That very good idea--save trouble," said Pablo. "And what you do with
cows, suppose no make butter?"

"Keep them, and sell their calves; keep them, to entice the wild cattle
into the pen."

"Yes, that good. And turn out old Billy to 'tice ponies into pen,"
continued Pablo, laughing.

"Yes, we will try it."

We must now return to the Intendant's house. Oswald delivered the
letter to the Intendant, who read it with much astonishment.

"Gone! Is he actually gone?" said Mr Heatherstone.

"Yes, sir, before daylight this morning."

"And why was I not informed of it?" said Mr Heatherstone; "why have you
been a party to this proceeding, being my servant? May I inquire that?"

"I knew Master Edward before I knew you, sir," replied Oswald.

"Then you had better follow him," rejoined the Intendant, in an angry
tone.

"Very well, sir," replied Oswald, who quitted the room. "Good Heaven!
How all my plans have been frustrated!" exclaimed the Intendant, when he
was alone. He then read the letter over more carefully than he had done
at first. "`Circumstances had occurred of which no explanation could be
given by him.' I do not comprehend that--I must see Patience."

Mr Heatherstone opened the door, and called to his daughter.

"Patience," said Mr Heatherstone, "Edward has left the house this
morning; here is a letter which he has written to me. Read it, and let
me know if you can explain some portion of it, which to me is
incomprehensible. Sit down and read it attentively."

Patience, who was much agitated, gladly took the seat and perused
Edward's letter. When she had done so she let it drop