present, the
undertaker put Mr. Neville with the Peytons, because he was heir to a
baronetcy.

Kate was much startled, and astonished to see him come out into the
hall. But when he entered the carriage, she welcomed him warmly.

"Oh, I am so glad to see you here!" said she.

"Guess by that what my delight at meeting you must be," said he.

She blushed and turned it off.

"I mean, that your coming here gives me good hopes there will be no more
mischief."

She then lowered her voice, and begged him on no account to tell her
papa of her ride to Scutchemsee Nob.

"Not a word," said George.

He knew the advantage of sharing a secret with a fair lady. He proceeded
to whisper something very warm in her ear: she listened to some of it;
but then remonstrated, and said,--

"Are you not ashamed to go on so at a funeral? Oh, do, pray, leave
compliments a moment, and think of your latter end."

He took this suggestion, as indeed he did everything from her, in good
part; and composed his visage into a decent gravity.

Soon after this they reached the church, and buried the deceased in his
family vault.

People who are not bereaved by the death are always inclined to chatter,
coming home from a funeral. Kate now talked to Neville of her own
accord, and asked him if he had spoken to his host. He said yes, and,
more than that, had come to a clear understanding with him.

"We agreed that it was no use fighting for you. I said, if either of us
two was to kill the other, it did not follow you would wed the
survivor."

"Me wed the wretch!" said Kate, "I should abhor him, and go into a
convent in spite of you all, and end my days praying for the murdered
man's soul."

"Neither of us is worth all that," suggested Neville, with an accent of
conviction.

"That is certain," replied the lady, dryly; "so please not to do it."

He bade her set her mind at ease: they had both agreed to try and win
her by peaceful arts.

"Then a pretty life mine will be!"

"Well, I think it will, till you decide."

"I could easily decide, if it were not for giving pain to--somebody."

"Oh, you can't help that. My sweet mistress, you are not the first that
has had to choose between two worthy men. For, in sooth, I have nothing
to say against my rival, neither. I know him better than I did: he is a
very worthy gentleman, though he is damnably in my way."

"And you are a very noble one to say so."

"And you are one of those that make a ma