is shady way, he keeps his look
directed towards the rising moon, and thus he almost runs into one who
also stands amid the shadows and whose gaze is likewise fixed upon
the moon.

"Ah?--Mr. Bellew!" exclaims a drawling voice, and Squire Cassilis turns
to regard him with his usual supercilious smile. Indeed Squire Cassilis
seems to be even more self-satisfied, and smiling than ordinary,
to-night,--or at least Bellew imagines so.

"You are still agriculturally inclined, I see," said Mr. Cassilis,
nodding towards the spade, "though it's rather a queer time to choose
for digging, isn't it?"

"Not at all, sir--not at all," returned Bellew solemnly, "the moon is
very nearly at the full, you will perceive."

"Well, sir,--and what of that?"

"When the moon is at the full, or nearly so, I generally dig, sir,--that
is to say, circumstances permitting."

"Really," said Mr. Cassilis beginning to caress his moustache, "it seems
to me that you have very--ah--peculiar tastes, Mr. Bellew."

"That is because you have probably never experienced the fierce joys of
moon-light digging, sir."

"No, Mr. Bellew,--digging--as a recreation, has never appealed to me at
any time."

"Then sir," said Bellew, shaking his head, "permit me to tell you that
you have missed a great deal. Had I the time, I should be delighted to
explain to you exactly how much, as it is--allow me to wish you a very
good evening."

Mr. Cassilis smiled, and his teeth seemed to gleam whiter, and sharper
than ever in the moon-light:

"Wouldn't it be rather more apropos if you said--'Good-bye' Mr. Bellew?"
he enquired. "You are leaving Dapplemere, shortly, I understand,--aren't
you?"

"Why sir," returned Bellew, grave, and imperturbable as ever,--"it all
depends."

"Depends!--upon what, may I ask?"

"The moon, sir."

"The moon?"

"Precisely!"

"And pray--what can the moon have to do with your departure?"

"A great deal more than you'd think--sir. Had I the time, I should be
delighted to explain to you exactly how much, as it is,--permit me to
wish you a very--good evening!"

Saying which, Bellew nodded affably, and, shouldering his spade, went
upon his way. And still he walked in the shadows, and still he gazed
upon the moon, but now, his thick brows were gathered in a frown, and he
was wondering just why Cassilis should chance to be here, to-night, and
what his confident air, and the general assurance of his manner might
portend; above all, he was