ke her no better than she is. The best man in
England can't do that. But you can make her a lady. I don't know what
she'll say, mind; but you can ask her,--if you please. I like you,
and you can ask her,--if you please. What answer she'll make, that's
her look out. But you can ask her,--if you please. Perhaps I'm a
little too forrard; but I call that honest. I don't know what you
call it. But this I do know;--there ain't so sweet a girl as that
within twenty miles round London." Then Mr. Neefit, in his energy,
dashed his hand down among the glasses on the little rustic table in
the arbour.

The reader may imagine that Ralph Newton was hardly ready with his
answer. There are men, no doubt, who in such an emergency would have
been able to damn the breeches-maker's impudence, and to have walked
at once out of the house. But our young friend felt no inclination to
punish his host in such fashion as this. He simply remarked that he
would think of it, the matter being too grave for immediate decision,
and that he would join the ladies.

"Do, Mr. Newton," said Mr. Neefit; "go and join Polly. You'll find
she's all I tell you. I'll sit here and have a pipe."

Ralph did join the ladies; and, finding Mrs. Neefit asleep, he
induced Polly to take a walk with him amidst the lanes of Hendon.
When he left Alexandrina Cottage in the evening, Mr. Neefit whispered
a word into his ear at the gate. "You know my mind. Strike while the
iron's hot. There she is,--just what you see her."

CHAPTER VII.

YOU ARE ONE OF US NOW.

The first week after Mary Bonner's arrival at Popham Villa went by
without much to make it remarkable, except the strangeness arising
from the coming of a stranger. Sir Thomas did stay at home on that
Sunday, but when the time came for going to morning church, shuffled
out of that disagreeable duty in a manner that was satisfactory
neither to himself nor his daughters. "Oh, papa; I thought you would
have gone with us!" said Patience at the last moment.

"I think not to-day, my dear," he said, with that sort of smile which
betokens inward uneasiness. Patience reproached him with a look, and
then the three girls went off together. Even Patience herself had
offered to excuse Mary, on the score of fatigue, seasickness, and the
like; but Mary altogether declined to be excused. She was neither
fatigued, she said, nor sick; and of course she would go to church.
Sir Thomas stayed at home, and thought about himself