."

Tappitt only scratched his head, and stared at him. "I do indeed,"
continued Rowan. "Now a man can't do anything to improve his own
trade as a lawyer. A great deal will be done; but I've made up my
mind that all that must come from the outside. All trades want
improving; but I like a trade in which I can do the improvements
myself,--from the inside. Do you understand me, Mr. Tappitt?"
Mr. Tappitt did not understand him,--was very far indeed from
understanding him.

"With such ideas as those I don't think Baslehurst is the ground for
you," said Mr. Tappitt.

"The very ground!" said Rowan. "That's just it;--it's the very place
I want. Brewing, as I take it, is at a lower ebb here than in any
other part of England,"--this at any rate was not complimentary to
the brewer of thirty years' standing--"than in any other part of
England. The people swill themselves with the nasty juice of the
apple because sound malt and hops have never been brought within
their reach. I think Devonshire is the very county for a man who
means to work hard, and who wishes to do good; and in all Devonshire
I don't think there's a more fitting town than Baslehurst."

Mr. Tappitt was dumbfounded. Did this young man mean him to
understand that it was his intention to open a rival establishment
under his nose; to set up with Bungall's money another brewery in
opposition to Bungall's brewery? Could such ingratitude as that be in
the mind of any one? "Oh," said Tappitt; "I don't quite understand,
but I don't doubt but what you say is all very fine."

"I don't think that it's fine at all, Mr. Tappitt, but I believe that
it's true. I represent Mr. Bungall's interest here in Baslehurst, and
I intend to carry on Mr. Bungall's business in the town in which he
established it."

"This is Mr. Bungall's business;--this here, where I'm sitting, and
it is in my hands."

"The use of these premises depends on you certainly."

"Yes; and the name of the firm, and the--the--the--. In point of
fact, this is the old establishment. I never heard of such a thing in
all my life."

"Quite true; it is the old establishment; and if I should set up
another brewery here, as I think it probable I may, I shall not make
use of Bungall's name. In the first place it would hardly be fair;
and in the next place, by all accounts, he brewed such very bad beer
that it would not be a credit to me. If you'll tell me what your plan
is, then I'll tell you mine. You'll find tha