to a matter as
to which his curiosity was soon relieved. He had hardly reached the
out-buildings which lay behind the kitchen-gardens on his way to
the Portray woods, before he encountered Andy Gowran. That faithful
adherent of the family raised his hand to his cap and bobbed his
head, and then silently, and with renewed diligence, applied himself
to the job which he had in hand. The gate of the little yard in
which the cow-shed stood was off its hinges, and Andy was resetting
the post and making the fence tight and tidy. Frank stood a moment
watching him, and then asked after his health. "'Deed am I nae that
to boost about in the way of bodily heelth, Muster Greystock. I've
just o'er mony things to tent to, to tent to my ain sell as a prudent
mon ought. It's airly an' late wi' me, Muster Greystock; and the
lumbagy just a' o'er a mon isn't the pleasantest freend in the
warld." Frank said that he was sorry to hear so bad an account of Mr.
Gowran's health, and passed on. It was not for him to refer to the
little scene in which Mr. Gowran had behaved so badly and had shaken
his head. If the misbehaviour had been condoned by Lady Eustace, the
less that he said about it the better. Then he went on through the
woods, and was well aware that Mr. Gowran's fostering care had not
been abated by his disapproval of his mistress. The fences had been
repaired since Frank was there, and stones had been laid on the road
or track over which was to be carried away the under-wood which it
would be Lady Eustace's privilege to cut during the coming winter.

Frank was not alone for one moment with his cousin during that
evening, but in the presence of Miss Macnulty all the circumstances
of the necklace were discussed. "Of course it is my own," said Lady
Eustace, standing up,--"my own to do just what I please with. If they
go on like this with me, they will almost tempt me to sell it for
what it will fetch,--just to prove to them that I can do so. I have
half a mind to sell it, and then send them the money, and tell them
to put it by for my little Flory. Would not that serve them right,
Frank?"

"I don't think I'd do that, Lizzie."

"Why not? You always tell me what not to do, but you never say what I
ought!"

"That is because I am so wise and prudent. If you were to attempt to
sell the diamonds they would stop you, and would not give you credit
for the generous purpose afterwards."

"They wouldn't stop you if you sold the ring you we