itude of remembrance, at which the
watching faces brightened with smiles. "Yes, now I come to think of it,
there was one little item of news. I forgot all about it; but you will
be interested, no doubt. The Grange is sold!"

The expression of curiosity on his daughters' faces was exchanged for
one of blank amazement. Even his wife gave a start of surprise, and
turned towards him with eager inquiry.

"Let! Really let, Alfred? You don't mean it?"

"So I am told."

"We've been told so so often that one grows sceptical. Is it really and
truly sold, and the deeds signed? I sha'n't believe it unless they are,
for difficulties have cropped up so often at the last moment. Are you
quite sure this time?"

"As sure as it is possible to be about anything in this wicked world.
Braithwaite tells me it's an accomplished fact. The deeds are signed,
and the workmen are to begin putting the house in order next week. You
may take it as settled this time, for the man really means to come. He
is a certain Ernest Vanburgh by name, and has been living abroad for
some years."

"And is there a Mrs Vanburgh, and has he any children, and are they
young or grown up?"

"Is he a dull sort of man, or will he be hospitable, and give dinners
and parties and help to make the place lively?"

"Is he musical, father, because there's that lovely big room where we
could have such charming musical evenings?"

Mr Rendell shrugged his shoulders with an air of resignation.

"How like a woman, or rather, I should say, how like half a dozen women
put together! My dears, I know absolutely nothing about the man, except
that he has bought the place. He is in a hurry to get settled, so you
will probably find out all about him for yourselves before many weeks
are over. It's no use asking questions. He was willing to pay down the
money, and that was all that Braithwaite cared about. He may be a
bachelor or a second Bluebeard, for all I know; but I suppose in either
case he will still be better than nobody."

"Of course he will. Blank windows are so dull. Curtains are much more
interesting. There's so much character in curtains. I can tell the
sort of woman who lives in a house merely by looking at her curtains.
It will be a new interest in life to have the Grange let again."

"And I have a Feeling that it will be an Epoch in our lives. I have a
Feeling that our Fate and that of the new tenants will be inextricably
woven together. It