!"

"Oh!" said Bellew, "--er--that's good!"

"Good!" exclaimed Adam, "Ah, Mr. Belloo sir! it be more than good,--it's
saved Miss Anthea's home for her, and--betwixt you an' me, sir,--I think
it's saved her too. An' it be all along o' that Master Georgy! Lord sir!
many's the time as I've watched that theer blessed b'y a-seekin', an'
a-searchin', a pokin' an' a pryin' round the place a-lookin' for 'is
fortun',--but, Lord bless my eyes an' limbs, sir!--I never thought as
he'd find nothin'."

"Why, of course not, Adam."

"Ah!--but that's jest where I were mistook, Mr. Belloo, sir,--because 'e
did."

"Did what, Adam?"

"Found the fortun' as he were always a-lookin' for,--a sack o' golden
soverings, sir, an' bank-notes, Mr. Belloo, sir,--bushels on 'em;
enough--ah! more 'n enough to pay off that mortgage, and to send that
theer old Grimes about his business,--an' away from Dapplemere for good
an' all, sir."

"So Grimes is really paid off, then, is he, Adam?"

"I done it myself, sir,--wi' these here two 'ands,--Three thousand pound
I counted over to him, an' five hundred more--in banknotes, sir, while
Miss Anthea sat by like one in a dream. Altogether there were five
thousand pound as that blessed b'y dug up out o' the orchard--done up
all in a pertater sack, under this very i-dentical tree as you'm a
set-tin' under Mr. Belloo sir. E'cod, I be half minded to take a shovel
and have a try at fortun'-huntin' myself,--only there ain't much chance
o' findin' another, hereabouts; besides--that b'y prayed for that
fortun', ah! long, an' hard he prayed, Mr. Belloo sir, an'--'twixt you
an' me, sir, I ain't been much of a pray-er myself since my old mother
died. Anyhow, the mortgage be paid off, sir, Miss Anthea's free, an'
'tis joy'ful, an' 'appy-'earted I be this night. Prudence an' me'll be
gettin' married soon now,--an' when I think of her cookin'--Lord, Mr.
Belloo sir!--All as I say is God bless Master Georgy! Good-night, sir!
an' may your dreams be as 'appy as mine,--always supposin' I do dream,
--which is seldom. Good-night, sir!"

Long after Adam's cheery whistle had died away, Bellew sat, pipe in
mouth, staring up at the moon. At length, however, he rose, and turned
his steps towards the house.

"Mr. Bellew!"

He started, and turning, saw Anthea standing amid her roses. For a
moment they looked upon each other in silence, as though each dreaded to
speak, then suddenly, she turned, and broke a great rose from its