she shouldn't care
twopence for me; and I don't suppose she ever will. But what I want
to know is whether you would object to my coming over here and seeing
her. I don't doubt but she might do much better."

"Oh dear no," said Mrs. Ray.

"But I should like to have my chance."

"You've not said anything to her yet, Mr. Rowan?"

"Well, no; I can't say I have. I meant to do so last night at the
party, but she wouldn't stay and hear me. I don't think she cares
very much about me, but I'll take my chance if you'll let me."

"Here she is," said Mrs. Ray. Then she again went to work with the
tea-caddy, so that Rachel might be led to believe that nothing
special had occurred in her absence. Nevertheless, had Rowan been
away, every word would have been told to her.

"I hope you like clotted cream," said Rachel, taking off her hat.
Luke declared that it was the one thing in all the world that he
liked best, and that he had come into Devonshire with the express
object of feasting upon it all his life. "Other Devonshire dainties
were not," he said, "so much to his taste. He had another object in
life. He intended to put down cider."

"I beg you won't do anything of the kind," said Mrs. Ray, "for I
always drink it at dinner." Then Rowan explained how that he was a
brewer, and that he looked upon it as his duty to put down so poor a
beverage as cider. The people of Devonshire, he averred, knew nothing
of beer, and it was his ambition to teach them. Mrs. Ray grew eager
in the defence of cider, and then they again became comfortable and
happy. "I never heard of such a thing in my life," said Mrs. Ray.
"What are the farmers to do with all their apple trees? It would be
the ruin of the whole country."

"I don't suppose it can be done all at once," said Luke.

"Not even by Mr. Rowan," said Rachel.

He sat there for an hour after their tea, and Mrs. Ray had in truth
become fond of him. When he spoke to Rachel he did so with the utmost
respect, and he seemed to be much more intimate with the mother than
with the daughter. Mrs. Ray's mind was laden with the burden of what
he had said in Rachel's absence, and with the knowledge that she
would have to discuss it when Rowan was gone; but she felt herself to
be happy while he remained, and had begun to hope that he would not
go quite yet. Rachel also was perfectly happy. She said very little,
but thought much of her different meetings with him,--of the arm in
the clouds, of the prom