dry,
and fit for a good foundation. Then he began to step it out, making
a circuit that amazed her, but he said, "It is of no use to do it at
twice. Your school can be only the first step towards a church, and you
had better have room--enough at once. It will serve as an endowment in
the meantime."

He would not let her remain in the sun, and she went into school.
She found him, when she came out, sitting in the arbour smoking a
cigar-rather a shock to her feelings, though he threw it away the
instant she appeared, and she excused him for his foreign habits.

In the evening, he brought down a traveller's case of instruments, and
proceeded to draw a beautiful little map of Cocksmoor, where it seemed
that he had taken all his measurements, whilst she was in school. He
ended by an imaginary plan and elevation for the school, with a pretty
oriel window and bell-gable, that made Ethel sigh with delight at the
bare idea.

Next day, he vanished after dinner, but this he often did; he used to
say he must go and have a holiday of smoking--he could not bear too much
civilised society. He came back for tea, however, and had not sat down
long before he said, "Now, I know all about it. I shall pack up my
goods, and be off for Vienna to-morrow."

"To Vienna!" was the general and dolorous outcry, and Gertrude laid hold
of him and said he should not go.

"I am coming back," he said, "if you will have me. The college holds a
court at Fordholm on the 3rd, and on the last of this month, I hope to
return."

"College! Court! What are you going to do at Vienna? Where have you left
your senses?" asked Dr. May.

"I find Sir Henry Walkinghame is there. I have been on an exploring
expedition to Drydale, found out his man of business, and where he is to
be written to. The college holds a court at Fordholm, and I hope to have
our business settled."

Ethel was too much confounded to speak. Her father was exclaiming on the
shortness of the time.

"Plenty of time," said Dr. Spencer, demonstrating that he should be able
to travel comfortably, and have four days to spare at Vienna--a journey
which he seemed to think less of, than did Dr. May of going to London.

As to checking him, of that there was no possibility, nor, indeed,
notion, though Ethel did not quite know how to believe in it, nor that
the plan could come to good. Ethel was much better by this time: by her
vigorous efforts, she had recovered her tone of mind and interest in
w