handsome, Sir.'

'I'm glad to hear it,' returned the old gentlemen with a smile. 'He is
disposed to behave more handsomely still, though, Christopher.'

'Indeed, Sir! It's very kind in him, but I don't want him to, I'm
sure,' said Kit, hammering stoutly at an obdurate nail.

'He is rather anxious,' pursued the old gentleman, 'to have you in his
own service--take care what you're doing, or you will fall down and
hurt yourself.'

'To have me in his service, Sir?' cried Kit, who had stopped short in
his work and faced about on the ladder like some dexterous tumbler.
'Why, Sir, I don't think he can be in earnest when he says that.'

'Oh! But he is indeed,' said Mr Garland. 'And he has told Mr Abel so.'

'I never heard of such a thing!' muttered Kit, looking ruefully at his
master and mistress. 'I wonder at him; that I do.'

'You see, Christopher,' said Mr Garland, 'this is a point of much
importance to you, and you should understand and consider it in that
light. This gentleman is able to give you more money than I--not, I
hope, to carry through the various relations of master and servant,
more kindness and confidence, but certainly, Christopher, to give you
more money.'

'Well,' said Kit, 'after that, Sir--'

'Wait a moment,' interposed Mr Garland. 'That is not all. You were a
very faithful servant to your old employers, as I understand, and
should this gentleman recover them, as it is his purpose to attempt
doing by every means in his power, I have no doubt that you, being in
his service, would meet with your reward. Besides,' added the old
gentleman with stronger emphasis, 'besides having the pleasure of being
again brought into communication with those to whom you seem to be very
strongly and disinterestedly attached. You must think of all this,
Christopher, and not be rash or hasty in your choice.'

Kit did suffer one twinge, one momentary pang, in keeping the
resolution he had already formed, when this last argument passed
swiftly into his thoughts, and conjured up the realization of all his
hopes and fancies. But it was gone in a minute, and he sturdily
rejoined that the gentleman must look out for somebody else, as he did
think he might have done at first.

'He has no right to think that I'd be led away to go to him, sir,' said
Kit, turning round again after half a minute's hammering. 'Does he
think I'm a fool?'

'He may, perhaps, Christopher, if you refuse his offer,' said Mr
Garland grav