brought news of Leicester's death also brought him the letter
telling him that Vale Linden was still for sale, and as he watched the
good effect that the place was having upon her, he rejoiced that he was
a rich man, and thus able to obtain what would have been impossible to
one who was poor. Not that John Castlemaine was blind to the sense of
his responsibilities as a rich man. He used his money wisely and well,
and while he did not appear before the public gaze as a philanthropist,
few men worked harder to use his money in order to minister to the needs
of humanity than he. He never advertised himself in the newspapers,
nevertheless he regarded himself as a steward of the Almighty, and used
his money accordingly. In buying Vale Linden, therefore, while he was
anxious to please and help his daughter, he was not forgetful of his
duties towards those who lived on the estate. Indeed, he felt sure that
it would not only be in the new scenes, but in the new duties which
would appear to Olive, that she would find that healing which she
needed.

Nevertheless for the first few weeks he rejoiced to see her revelling in
the beauties of the countryside. Often he accompanied her on her walks,
and went with her into the farmhouses, where she chatted with the
farmers' wives. He climbed with her to Linden Tor, from which they could
see the wide expanse of the moors; he sat with her in wooded dells, and
listened to the song of the birds, and the rill of the river.

"You are pleased with Vale Linden, Olive?" he said to her one day.

"You know, father," she replied.

"And you can be happy here?"

"I think so; I hope so--presently," she replied.

"But not yet?"

She was silent.

"We must get some friends down here, Olive. You must have girls of your
own age to stay here. It must be a bit lonely for you only having me."

"No," she said, "I am not lonely, and I want no friends--yet. I want to
be quiet for a little while--presently----"

"Presently you will want them?"

"No, I think not, father, and yet I don't know. Yes, perhaps I shall.
Besides, I think we ought. But it was not of that I was thinking."

"I daresay the people around here will be calling soon."

"No, I do not think so."

"Why?"

"Well, you see, the farmers will not dare to call; they will think it
presumptuous. As for the county people, they will not think it incumbent
upon them to do so."

"No?"

"Two things will stand in the way of their doing so. F