our preserves for? The girl belongs to us. She was given to you
to look after, and a nice job you seem to have made of it!"

"Never mind, my boy," replied the merchant. "I'll answer for keeping
them apart if you will only push the matter on your own account."

"I've said that I would do so, and I will," Ezra returned; and events
soon showed that he was as good as his word.

Before his African excursion the relations between young Girdlestone and
his father's ward had never been cordial. Kate's nature, however, was
so sweet and forgiving, that it was impossible for her to harbour any
animosity, and she greeted Ezra kindly on his return from his travels.
Within a few days she became conscious that a remarkable change had come
over him--a change, as it seemed to her, very much for the better.
In the past, weeks had frequently elapsed without his addressing her,
but now he went out of his way to make himself agreeable. Sometimes he
would sit for a whole evening describing to her all that he had seen in
Africa, and really interesting her by his account of men and things.
She, poor lass, hailed this new departure with delight, and did all in
her power to encourage his better nature and to show that she
appreciated the alteration in his bearing. At the same time, she was
rather puzzled in her mind, for an occasional flash of coarseness or
ferocity showed her that the real nature of the man was unaltered, and
that he was putting an unnatural restraint upon himself.

As the days went on, and no word or sign came from Tom, a great fear and
perplexity arose within the girl's mind. She had heard nothing of the
interview at Fenchurch Street, nor had she any clue at all which could
explain the mystery. Could it be that Tom had informed her guardian of
their engagement, and had received such a rebuff that he had abandoned
her in despair? That was surely impossible; yet why was it that he had
ceased to walk through the square? She knew that he was not ill,
because she heard her two companions talking of him in connection with
business. What could be the matter, then? Her little heart was torn by
a thousand conflicting doubts and fears.

In the mean time Ezra gave fresh manifestations of the improvement which
travel had wrought upon him. She had remarked one day that she was fond
of moss roses. On coming down to breakfast next morning she found a
beautiful moss rose upon her plate, and every morning afterwards a fresh