or the next ten minutes conversation was of the most desultory
character; then the sound of wheels was heard in the distance, and Rex
became eager and excited once more.

"There's my father! Go and meet him, Norah. Get hold of him before
Hilary comes with her everlasting chatter. He wants to speak to you.
Bring him along here, and I'll go into the house!"

Norah sped off obediently, and met the Squire as the cart turned in at
the gate. He pulled up at once, handed the reins to the man, and jumped
down to join her. His ruddy face looked drawn and anxious, and the
first glance at the girl showed that she was, like himself, in a woe-
begone state of mind.

"Oh, you know all about it! That boy of mine has been talking to you, I
can see!" he said, as they shook hands, and turned along the winding
path. "Well, well, this is a fine ending to all my hopes. The lad's as
obstinate as a mule--I am sure I don't know where he got his
disposition; if he once takes a thing in his head there's no moving him.
Now he wants to go and bury himself in the wilds of India! I've talked
until I am tired, and I can't make him see what mad folly it is. After
an expensive college education--"

"Yes, but, Squire, I don't think that's a fair argument! Rex didn't
want to go to college; he went against his own wishes because you were
set on it. He said it would be waste of money."

"Tut, tut! nonsense! Waste of money, indeed! I don't grudge a few
hundreds spent on my only son's education, I hope. Things would have
come to a pretty pass if that were the case," cried the Squire, turning
off at a tangent, as usual, the moment he found his position attacked by
the enemy. "I thought the boy would have come to his senses long before
the three years were over. I have told him--" And he launched off into
a lengthy account of the interview of the night before, repeating his
own arguments and his son's replies, while Norah listened with downcast
eyes. "There!" he cried in conclusion, "that is the matter in a
nutshell, and everyone must see that I am perfectly reasonable and
within my rights. Now, my dear, you talk to him; he thinks a great deal
of your opinion. Just tell him plainly that if he persists in his
folly, he is ruining his life, and behaving in a very wrong, undutiful
manner to his mother and to me. Talk to him plainly; don't spare your
words!"

"I can't do that, Squire. I'm sorry, but I don't agree with you. Rex
has giv