ir first interview. His manner was as kind as before; but not
a word more could be extracted from him on the subject of his wife than
that Mrs. Milroy "had not improved since yesterday."

The two next days passed quietly and uneventfully. Allan persisted
in making his inquiries at the cottage; but all he saw of the major's
daughter was a glimpse of her on one occasion at a window on the bedroom
floor. Nothing more was heard from Mr. Pedgift; and Mr. Bashwood's
appearance was still delayed. Midwinter declined to move in the matter
until time enough had passed to allow of his first hearing from Mr.
Brock, in answer to the letter which he had addressed to the rector on
the night of his arrival at Thorpe Ambrose. He was unusually silent and
quiet, and passed most of his hours in the library among the books. The
time wore on wearily. The resident gentry acknowledged Allan's visit by
formally leaving their cards. Nobody came near the house afterward;
the weather was monotonously fine. Allan grew a little restless and
dissatisfied. He began to resent Mrs. Milroy's illness; he began to
think regretfully of his deserted yacht.

The next day--the twentieth--brought some news with it from the outer
world. A message was delivered from Mr. Pedgift, announcing that his
clerk, Mr. Bashwood, would personally present himself at Thorpe Ambrose
on the following day; and a letter in answer to Midwinter was received
from Mr. Brock.

The letter was dated the 18th, and the news which it contained raised
not Allan's spirits only, but Midwinter's as well.

On the day on which he wrote, Mr. Brock announced that he was about to
journey to London; having been summoned thither on business connected
with the interests of a sick relative, to whom he stood in the position
of trustee. The business completed, he had good hope of finding one or
other of his clerical friends in the metropolis who would be able and
willing to do duty for him at the rectory; and, in that case, he trusted
to travel on from London to Thorpe Ambrose in a week's time or less.
Under these circumstances, he would leave the majority of the subjects
on which Midwinter had written to him to be discussed when they met. But
as time might be of importance, in relation to the stewardship of the
Thorpe Ambrose estate, he would say at once that he saw no reason why
Midwinter should not apply his mind to learning the steward's duties,
and should not succeed in rendering himself invaluab