, holding out his hand, "you always were a good,
true, simple-hearted fellow."

"I hope so, sir," said Humphrey, giving his horny palm a rub down his
cord breeches before taking the extended hand, "and that's what makes it
right that we should go on as we are. Nature knew it, sir, and that's
how it was the change came about--you being the clever one, and best
suited for the estate. I'm glad of one thing, though."

"What's that?" said Richard, wringing the extended hand.

"Why, I know now, sir, why Mrs Lloyd was always so down on me--she
always was down on me, awful--regular hated me, like. Ah, the times
I've cried over it as a boy! Nobody ever seemed to love me like till
now, sir--till now."

Humphrey beamed as he slapped his broad chest; and his simple words
seemed to corroborate those of Mrs Lloyd, till the last ray of hope was
crushed from Richard's breast.

"No, Humphrey," he said, gravely, though every word cost him a pang, "I
cannot stay here as an impostor. The place is yours, I give up all."

"That you just won't, sir," said Humphrey. "Why, I should be a brute
beast if I let you. Come, come, let it go for a day or two, and think
it over. It won't trouble me. I don't want it. I'm only glad of one
thing--I've got somebody on the hip, and she won't say no now."

"I want no thinking, Humphrey; and we can still be friends. Come up to
the house."

"And what would Miss Tiny say?"

If Humphrey had stabbed him with the iron-pointed staff he carried, he
could not have given him greater pain; and his eyes wore a strange
piteous aspect as they gazed upon the young keeper's face,

"You've got her to think about too, sir," said Humphrey, "same as I
have. Oh no, Master Richard, it wouldn't never, never do."

"Come up to the house, Humphrey--come up to the house."

And then, without another word, but closely followed by his late
servant, Richard strode hastily through the wood, whose briars and twigs
in the unaccustomed path seemed now to take the part of fate, and lashed
and tore him in his reckless passage, till his face was smeared with the
blood which he had wiped hastily away.

"Has Mrs Lloyd come back from her walk?" said Richard to the staring
footman.

"Yes, sir, two hours ago," said the man.

"Go into the study, Humphrey Trevor," said Richard, quietly; and then to
himself, "Poor woman! and it was done for me."

Volume 2, Chapter XX.

IN TRANSITION.

It was a hard fight, and the tempta