hanged my mind. It would not do at all. I
almost wonder how you could have had the courage to ask her. I don't
suppose that you have the insight to see that she is different from
other girls."

"Oh, yes; I perceived that."

"And yet you would go and ask her to be your wife off-hand, just as
though you were going to buy a horse! I suppose you told her that it
would be a good thing because of the estate?"

"I did mention it," said the young man, altogether astounded and put
beyond himself by his uncle's manner and words.

"Yes; just as if it were a bargain! If you will consent to put up
with me as a husband, why, then you can go shares with me in the
property. That was the kind of thing, wasn't it? And then you come
and tell me that you have done your duty by making the offer!"

The heir expectant was then convinced that it would have been better
for him to have followed the advice which Isabel had given him, but
yet he could not bring himself to believe that the advice had been
disinterested. Why should Isabel have given him disinterested advice
in opposition to her own prospects? Must not Isabel's feeling about
the property be the same as his own?

CHAPTER IV

The Squire's Death

With a sore heart Isabel went her way to Hereford,--troubled because
she saw nothing but sorrow and vexation in store for her uncle.

"I know that I am getting weaker every day," he said. And yet it was
not long since he had spoken of living for two years.

"Shall I stay?" asked Isabel.

"No; that would be wrong. You ought to go to your father. I suppose
that I shall live till you come back."

"Oh, Uncle Indefer!"

"What if I did die? It is not that that troubles me." Then she
kissed him and left him. She knew how vain it was to ask any further
questions, understanding thoroughly the nature of his sorrow. The
idea that this nephew must be the master of Llanfeare was so bitter
to him that he could hardly endure it; and then, added to this, was
the vexation of the nephew's presence. That three weeks should be
passed alone with the man,--three weeks of the little that was left
to him of life, seemed to be a cruel addition to the greater sorrow!
But Isabel went, and the uncle and nephew were left to do the best
they could with each other's company.

Isabel had not seen Mr Owen or heard from him since the writing of
that letter in which she had told him of her uncle's decision. Now it
would be necessary that she should mee