e and up the
backstairs to the nursery, whence he only escaped by strategy.

No day passed without a visit from the Kitten and although he was not
wholly blind to the defects in her character, he was sure she was the
"peartest, sauciest, cleverest little baggage in the British Isles."

Of course the fact that Eloquent had been asked to dine at the Manor
House was much canvassed in the village. Miss Gallup trumpeted the
matter abroad, and naturally it was discussed exhaustively by what Mr
Ffolliot would have called his "retainers."

Willets was not sure that he approved. "I've no doubt," he said
leniently to Mrs Willets as they were sitting at tea, "that he's a
smart young chap and he's got on wonderfully, but I don't altogether
trust that pushing kind myself, and he's that sort. Why, I saw him,
with my own eyes, walk past this house with our Miss Mary as bold as
brass. I'll warrant if Squire had seen him he'd have been put out."

"He was her partner at dinner last night," Fusby was saying, "and
what's more," here Mrs Willets lowered her voice mysteriously, "he says
as he looked at her that loving, he's sure he's after her."

"After your grandmother!" Willets said rudely, his hawk's eyes bright
with anger. "As if Miss Mary would so much as look at him! Let him
seek a mate in his own class."

"That's just what he won't do; Miss Gallup--she's that set-up and silly
about him--says he must marry a lady, one who'll be able to help him
now he's got so high up. I'm surprised, I own it, at Squire--but
probably it was the Mistress, she's all for friendliness always. But
I'll warrant they'd both be in a pretty takin' if they thought he was
after Miss Mary."

"I tell you he's nothing of the kind," Willets shouted, thumping the
table so violently that he hurt his hand. "It's scandalous to say such
things, and so I'll tell Fusby the first time I see him--gossiping old
silly."

"Now, William, it's no good going on against Fusby. He was as upset as
you could be yourself, an' he only told me when he looked in this
afternoon because he felt worried like. He wouldn't care a bit if it
wasn't that she seems taken with 'im. He says he saw them whisperin'
at dinner, and young Gallup he give something to Miss Mary under the
table. Fusby _saw_ them."

"I don't believe it," Willets said stoutly. "It's all some foolishness
Fusby's gone and made up. I don't hold with such cackle, and I'm
surprised at you, my dear, allowin