n to a deacon, as, for instance,
this:

"'Tell Beever he can stay on as overseer as long as you please; so he must
look out and please you. Tell him I don't know anything about the relative
merits of Durham or Alderney breeds of cattle, or Southdown sheep, or
anything of that sort. I took my degree at a naval academy, not at an
agricultural college. So you just buy what stock you like best, and if you
don't know any better than I do, ask your father. He does.'

"That's the sort of love letters Le writes to you, my dear! A letter that
he might have written to his attorney or to his overseer!"

"And yet, showing in every line, in every word, his constant consideration
for me, his wish to defer everything to me," sighed Odalite.

"Showing the carelessness of the sailor, rather than the devotion of the
lover! But look you here, my little girl! How is this? Grieving--actually
grieving for Le, while you are loving and engaging to marry Anglesea? I do
not understand it!"

"Oh, papa! It is only that I wish to be just to Le! And I wish you to be
just to him. However you may blame my fickleness, do not blame him; he has
not changed!"

"Tut, tut, my dear! Young naval officers sailing all over the world,
seeing all sorts of beautiful and attractive women of all races and
nations, do not break their hearts about little, childish sweethearts left
in their country homes, and whom they have not seen for years! Midshipman
Leonidas Force, if he aspires to marry one of my daughters, must put up
with the second Miss Force! Ay, and must wait until she is of suitable
age! Now let us talk about the wedding! The colonel--he is something like
a lover!--wants it to come off as soon as may be, before Christmas, if
possible! What do you say, my dear?" inquired the squire, just to divert
his daughter's mind from what he considered a morbid and painful
compassion for the discarded lover's wrongs.

"It shall be just as my mother pleases, sir! I should like to leave
everything to her," replied Odalite.

"That is quite right. The mother is the proper one, of course. Well, talk
to her, my precious, and whatever arrangements you two agree upon I shall
indorse. It seems to be clouding up. I should not wonder if we were to
have snow before night. Shall we turn homeward?"

"Yes, if you please, papa."

"Oh! look at those wild turkeys! What a splendid chance for a shot, if I
only had my fowling piece. Strange that I only have such chances when I
h