re. And this was
doubtless what the Dumfries lawyers expected. The care and culture of
the estate during a long minority was what they thought about as being
most to their advantage, and it was quite evident that little Louis, for
the present, could hardly be better situated than at Heathknowes.
Messrs. Smart and Smart sent a man down to spy out the land, on pretext
of offering compensation, but his report must have been favourable both
as to the security of the farm-town and as to my grandfather's repute
for generosity and open-handedness. For he did not return, and as to
payment, nothing more was ever heard at Heathknowes about the matter.

The young people were now quite fixtures there, and though they were
spoken of as Miss Irma and Master Louis, Irma had carried her main
point, which was that they should be treated in all respects as of the
family. The sole difference made was that now the farm lads and lasses,
and the two men from the pirn-mill (whom my grandfather's increasing
trade with the English weavers had compelled him to take on), had their
meals at a second table, placed crosswise to that at which the family
dined and supped. But this was chiefly to prevent little Louis from
occupying himself with watching to see when they would swallow their
knives, and nudging his neighbours Irma and Aunt Jen to "look out," at
any particular dangerous and intricate feat of conjuring.

As for me, I could not at all understand why Irma cold-shouldered me
during these first Christmas vacations, and indeed I had secretly
resolved to return no more to the house of Heathknowes till I had made
sure of a better reception. I began to count it a certainty that Irma,
feeling that she had gone too far and too fast with me before I went
off, was now getting out of the difficulty by a regime of extraordinary
coldness and severity. And if that were the case, I was not the man to
baulk her.

For about this time a man I began to count myself.

Worst of all, going home to the school-house there came into my head one
of the most stupid ideas that had ever got lodging there--though,
according to my grandmother, I am rather a don at harbouring suchlike.

It occurred to me that a plan I had read of in some book or other might
suit my case. If I could only make Irma jealous, the tables might be
turned, and she become as anxious and desirous of making up as I was.

It seemed to me a marvellously original idea. Irma had cared enough to
gi