as she looked over
my shoulder.)

"I write this merely to say, what I feel sure you will already
have believed--that anything which you may learn concerning his
affairs, I was myself unaware of, except in a very slight degree, when
I last visited Beechwood.

"Will you likewise believe that in all I have done, or intend
doing, your interests as my tenant--which I hope you will remain--have
been, and shall be, sedulously guarded?

"My grateful remembrance to all your household.
"Faithfully yours and theirs,
"LUXMORE."

"Give me back the letter, Maud my child."

She had been taking possession of it, as in right of being his "pet"
she generally did of all Lord Ravenel's letters. But now, without a
word of objection, she surrendered it to her father.

"What does he mean, Mr. Jessop, about my interests as his tenant?"

"Bless me--I am so grieved about the matter that everything goes astray
in my head. He wished me to explain to you that he has reserved one
portion of the Luxmore property intact--Enderley Mills. The rent you
pay will, he says, be a sufficient income for him; and then while your
lease lasts no other landlord can injure you. Very thoughtful of
him--very thoughtful indeed, Mr. Halifax."

John made no answer.

"I never saw a man so altered. He went over some matters with
me--private charities, in which I have been his agent, you know--grave,
clear-headed, business-like; my clerk himself could not have done
better. Afterwards we sat and talked, and I tried--foolishly enough,
when the thing was done!--to show him what a frantic act it was both
towards himself and his heirs. But he could not see it. He said
cutting off the entail would harm nobody--for that he did not intend
ever to marry. Poor fellow!"

"Is he with you still?" John asked in a low tone.

"No; he left this morning for Paris; his father is to be buried there.
Afterwards, he said, his movements were quite uncertain. He bade me
good-bye--I--I didn't like it, I can assure you."

And the old man, blowing his nose with his yellow pocket-handkerchief,
and twitching his features into all manner of shapes, seemed determined
to put aside the melancholy subject, and dilated on the earl and his
affairs no more.

Nor did any one. Something in this young nobleman's noble act--it has
since been not without a parallel among our aristocracy--silenced the
tongue of g