warmth, and spoke feelingly
of the people who had to live in such places. She also warned him
against the risk of infection.

"You don't understand," he repeated, impatiently. "These are nice
houses--nice enough for anybody to live in. If you took soup to people
like that, why, they'd throw it at you."

"Wretches!" murmured the indignant Jane, who was enjoying herself
amazingly.

His lordship eyed her with sudden suspicion, but her face was quite
grave and bore traces of strong feeling. He explained again, but without
avail.

"You never ought to go near such places, my lord," she concluded,
solemnly, as she rose to quit the room. "Even a girl of my station would
draw the line at that."

She bowed deeply and withdrew. His lordship sank into a chair and,
thrusting his hands into his pockets, gazed gloomily at the dried
grasses in the grate.

During the next day or two his appetite failed, and other well-known
symptoms set in. Miss Rose, diagnosing them all, prescribed by stealth
some bitter remedies. The farmer regarded his change of manner with
disapproval, and, concluding that it was due to his own complaints,
sought to reassure him. He also pointed out that his daughter's opinion
of the aristocracy was hardly likely to increase if the only member she
knew went about the house as though he had just lost his grandmother.

"You are longing for the gayeties of town, my lord," he remarked one
morning at breakfast.

His lordship shook his head. The gayeties comprised, amongst other
things, a stool and a desk.

"I don't like town," he said, with a glance at Jane. "If I had my choice
I would live here always. I would sooner live here in this charming
spot with this charming society than anywhere."

Mr. Rose coughed and, having caught his eye, shook his head at him
and glanced significantly over at the unconscious Jane. The young man
ignored his action and, having got an opening, gave utterance in the
course of the next ten minutes to Radical heresies of so violent a type
that the farmer could hardly keep his seat. Social distinctions were
condemned utterly, and the House of Lords referred to as a human
dust-bin. The farmer gazed open-mouthed at this snake he had nourished.

"Your lordship will alter your mind when you get to town," said Jane,
demurely.

"Never!" declared the other, impressively.

The girl sighed, and gazing first with much interest at her parent, who
seemed to be doing his best to ward off a