ine?"

"Yes; it must bring some, as it is directed to heirs. How much, depends
upon the wealth of your father's family."

"They were very wealthy. Papa told mamma to write home to them, but she
would not. She is too independent for that."

"Will you sanction my action, and allow me to work this case up? Your
mother cannot be an heir, you know, save in a roundabout way; so that
you, being of age, are sole authority in the matter."

"How do you know I am of age?"

"I don't; but thought that, perhaps, you might be, seeing you are so
mature and circumspect in your ways."

"Thank you for the doubtful compliment. I am of age, however."

"Then will you authorize me to proceed?"

"With all my heart."

"Do you know it makes me very sorry to become your solicitor?"

"Why?"

"Because henceforth ours are mere business relations, and I, a
struggling junior partner, must be circumspect too, and stand in proper
awe and distant respect for a prospective heiress."

"Do not allow your reverence to carry you too far to an opposite
extreme. You have been very good during most of our walk, and I have
enjoyed it very much."

As she tripped in at the French window, Coristine could not reply. It is
probable that he ejaculated inwardly, "the darlin'!" but, outwardly, he
took out his pipe and sought consolation in the bowl of the Turk's head.
While patrolling the long path down towards the meadow, he heard a low
whistle, and, proceeding to the point in the fence whence it came, found
Mr. Rawdon, as pale as he well could be, and much agitated. "Look 'ere,
Mr. Currystone," he said, "I've bin down to Talfourds and a good bit
further, and I find a fellow called Nash 'as bin about, plottin' to 'urt
my business along of that brute of a Chisholm. They can't 'urt it much,
but I can 'urt them, and, wot's more, I will. 'Ow I found out wot
they're about is my haffair. I hain't got no time to lose, so you tell
the genniwin Simon Pure Miss Do Please-us as I'll hoffer 'er a thousan'
dollars cash for that there farm of 'ers till to-morrow mornin'. 'Er
hacceptance must be hat the Post-hoffice hup the road hany time before
ten o'clock, and the deed can be drawn hup between you and me and the
Squire just has soon therehafter as she pleases. Ha, ha! pretty good,
eh? Miss Do Please-us, she pleases! Bye, bye! Mr. Currystone, don't you
forget, for it's business."

The Grinstun man stole along the meadow fence and travelled over the
fields, back way,