other left, and fifty given by my father, that I hold,
and I don't mind doing anything in reason with it to prevent
having the property get into the lawyer's hands. I wouldn't do
it for Jonas; but I will for you or the shaver. Shall you manage
the farm yourself? If I were you I would get Joe Filmer to do that.
He's a good chap, honest as daylight, and worships you."

"I don't know or think anything about that," said Mehetabel.

"But you must do so. The Rocliffes have invaded the place, so my
father says. They took possession directly Jonas was dead, and
they are treating the farm as if it were their own. You are going
to the Punch-Bowl at once, and I will assert your rights."

"I am not going to the Punch-Bowl again," said Mehetabel, decisively.

"You must. You have no other home."

"That can be no home to me."

"But--where are you going to live?"

"I ask--" she looked at Iver with something of entreaty in her
eyes--"May I not come and be servant here? I will do my duty, you
need not doubt that."

"I have no doubt about that," he answered. "But--but--" he hesitated,
and probed the fire again, "you see, Matabel, it wouldn't do."

"Why not?"

"Oh, there are three or four reasons."

She looked steadily at him, awaiting more.

"In the first place," he said, with a little confusion, "there has
been much chatter about me being on the jury, and some folk say
that but for me you'd have been found guilty, and--" He did not
complete the sentence. He had knocked a burning turf down on the
hearth. He took the tongs, picked it up and replaced it. "I won't
say there is not some truth in that. But that is not all, Matabel.
I'm going to give up Guildford and live here."

"You are!" Her eyes brightened.

"Yes, at the Ship. For one thing, I am sick of giving lessons to
noodles. More than half of those who take lessons are as incapable
of making any progress as a common duck is of soaring to the
clouds. It's drudgery giving lessons to such persons. The only
pictures they turn out that are fit to be looked at are such as
the master has drawn and corrected and finished off for them. I'll
have no more of that."

"I am glad, Iver. Then you will be with the dear old father."

"Yes. He wants some one here to keep an eye on him. But, just
because I shall be here, it is not possible for you to be in the
house. There has been too much talk, you know, about us. And this
matter of my being on the jury has made the talk more loud