r thoughtfully and
nonchalantly for a time.

'Mrs. Bywank, Mrs. Coles is returned.'

'Surely!' said Mrs. Bywank, with a slight start. 'Then she'll
make mischief,--or it'll be the first chance she ever missed.'

'And--the world around her is not so simple as your young lady
believes.'

'No, no!' said Mrs. Bywank, earnestly. 'Well I know that! But
just there comes in another trouble I spoke of,--you can't make
her believe it, sir,--and so I'm not sure it's always wise to
try.' She paused, in a sort of hesitating way; glancing from
her teaspoon to her guest.

'It's not wise to try at all,' said he, smiling--a sort of warm
genial smile, which went over the table to his old friend. 'At
the same time,'--and his face grew sternly grave,--'it may be
desirable to have some other wisdom come in to her help. I
wish,--if you are in any doubt or perplexity about anything you
hear, and it may be only a little thing that may give you the
impression,--I wish you would call me in.'

'Well sir,--that just touches my thought,' said Mrs. Bywank.
'Or my thought that. For I couldn't do it, Mr. Rollo,
unless,'--and an unmistakeable look of anxious inquiry came
across the table. 'Unless, you know, sir,' she went on,
looking away again,--'unless--excuse my freedom--the conditions
of the will are to be carried out.' And the old housekeeper
called for hot waffles, and otherwise apologized for touching
the subject, by quitting it at once. As soon as all this
bustle was disposed of, her guest met her eye again with a
frank, bright smile.

'The conditions of the will are to be carried out, my friend.'

Mrs. Bywank brought her hands together with a sense of relief
and gladness that somehow went to her eyes too, and she was
silent a little.

'I did hope it, sir!--And I would far rather apply to you than
to Mr. Falkirk. _He_ frets me sometimes,' added the old
housekeeper: 'I may say that to you, sir. Now, she's been wild
to ride all summer,--and a dozen wild to have her; and Mr.
Falkirk has never let her go once. And so long as he _does_ let
her go and dance with the same people, I don't for my part see
why.'

'Perhaps he does,' said Rollo, rather dryly. 'But I have made
the requisite declarations in presence of Mr. Falkirk and Dr.
Maryland, and am legally qualified to act, Mrs. Bywank. _She_
does not know anything of this; and it is not best she should--
for the present.'

'No sir--by no means,' said Mrs. Bywank, earnestly. 'For if