t his uncle did in fact dislike
him. At their very first interview he was made to listen to praises
of Isabel and threats against himself. He was quite prepared to put
up with both, or with any other disagreeable hardship which might
be inflicted upon him, if only he could do so successfully. But he
believed that his best course would be to press his suit with Isabel.
Should he do so successfully, he would at any rate be safe. Should
she be persistent in refusing him, which he believed to be probable,
then he would have shown himself desirous of carrying out his uncle's
wishes. As to all this he was clear-sighted enough. But he did not
quite perceive the state of his uncle's mind in regard to himself. He
did not understand how painfully the old man was still vacillating
between affection and duty; nor did he fathom the depth of the love
which his uncle felt for Isabel. Had he been altogether wise in the
matter, he would have kept out of his uncle's presence, and have
devoted himself to the tenants and the land; but in lieu of this, he
intruded himself as much as possible into his uncle's morning room,
often to the exclusion of Isabel. Now it had come to pass that Uncle
Indefer was never at his ease unless his niece were with him.

"Nobody can be more attached to another than I am to Isabel,"
said the nephew to his uncle on the third morning of his arrival.
Whereupon Uncle Indefer grunted. The more he saw of the man, the less
he himself liked the idea of sacrificing Isabel to such a husband. "I
shall certainly do my best to carry out your wishes."

"My wishes have reference solely to her."

"Exactly, sir; I understand that completely. As she is not to be the
heiress, the best thing possible is to be done for her."

"You think that marrying you would be the best thing possible!" This
the uncle said in a tone of scorn which must have been very hard to
bear. And it was unjust too, as the unfortunate nephew had certainly
not intended to speak of himself personally as being the best thing
possible for Isabel.

But this too had to be borne. "I meant, sir, that if she would accept
my hand, she would have pretty nearly as great an interest in the
property as I myself."

"She would have much more," said Uncle Indefer angrily. "She knows
every man, woman, and child about the place. There is not one of them
who does not love her. And so they ought, for she has been their best
friend. As far as they are concerned it is almost