ittle estate in the Punch-Bowl be saved
from fallin' into the hands of them darned lawyers. A stitch in
time saves nine, and a little help now may be all that is wanted
to keep the property clean and clear and unembarrassed wi' debt.
If once we get our heads under water we'll all get drowned, me
and Matabel and the kid--sure as crabs ain't garden apples."

"That may be very true, Bideabout," answered Iver, "but for all
that I cannot let the money out of my control."

"Ain't you bound to spend it on the child?"

"I am bound to reserve it whole and intact for the child."

"But can you not see," persisted Jonas, "that you are doing that
for the child, it would wish above all, when come to years of
discretion."

"That is possible, but my hands are tied."

"In truth you will not."

"I cannot."

"I don't believe you. It is because you want to spite me that you
will not help."

"Not at all, Bideabout. I wish well to the child and its mother,
and, of course, to you. But I cannot break a trust."

"You will not?"

"If no other word will suit you--be it so--I will not."

Jonas Kink fumed blood red.

"You think to have me there. I shouldn't be surprised but it's you
who are at the bottom of all--and will buy me up and buy me out,
that you and Matabel may have the place to yourselves. It shall
never be. I know what was meant when Sanna Verstage made you
trustee. I am to be reckoned with. I can assure you of that. I
shall find means to keep my property from you and my wife also."

He raised his stick and fell to beating the picture of Mehetabel
with it; till it was rent to rags.

"Not even her picture shall you have--and I would it were her I
were slashin' and breakin' to pieces as I've done to this picture.
It may come to that in the end--but out of my power and into your
hands she shall never go."

CHAPTER XXXV.

THE ONLY CHANGE

Jonas Kink, after much objurgation and persuasion, had induced
old Clutch to leave his stable at Guildford, and return home by
way of Godalming.

But the horse was unfamiliar with the road. He had been ridden
along it in reverse direction in the morning, but, as every
one knows, a way wears quite a different aspect under such
circumstances. Old Clutch was mistrustful. Having been taken such
an unprecedentedly long journey, he was without confidence that his
master might not prolong the expedition to a still further distance.
Accordingly he was exceedingly troublesome and