rs, having made the old
lady comfortable, had joined the three Miss Saundersons, dividing his
pleasant smile equally between them; and seemingly unconscious of the
admiring glances which many another rural beauty directed towards him
as he passed along. About the man there was a certain indescribable
elegance, a natural suavity free from all that affectation, whether
of forced heartiness or condescending civility, which too often
characterizes the well-meant efforts of provincial magnates to
accommodate themselves to persons of inferior station and breeding. It
is a great advantage to a man to have passed his early youth in that
most equal and most polished of all democracies,--the best society of
large capitals. And to such acquired advantage Leopold Travers added the
inborn qualities that please.

Later in the evening Travers, again accosting Mr. Lethbridge, said, "I
have been talking much to the Saundersons about that young man who did
us the inestimable service of punishing your ferocious parishioner,
Tom Bowles; and all I hear so confirms the interest your own
account inspired me with that I should really like much to make his
acquaintance. Has not he turned up yet?"

"No; I fear he must have gone. But in that case I hope you will take
his generous desire to serve my poor basket-maker into benevolent
consideration."

"Do not press me; I feel so reluctant to refuse any request of yours.
But I have my own theory as to the management of an estate, and my
system does not allow of favour. I should wish to explain that to the
young stranger himself; for I hold courage in such honour that I do not
like a brave man to leave these parts with an impression that Leopold
Travers is an ungracious churl. However, he may not have gone. I will
go and look for him myself. Just tell Cecilia that she has danced enough
with the gentry, and that I have told Farmer Turby's son, a fine young
fellow and a capital rider across country, that I expect him to show my
daughter that he can dance as well as he rides."

CHAPTER IV.

QUITTING Mr. Lethbridge, Travers turned with quick step towards the more
solitary part of the grounds. He did not find the object of his search
in the walks of the plantation; and, on taking the circuit of his
demesne, wound his way back towards the lawn through a sequestered rocky
hollow in the rear of the marquee, which had been devoted to a fernery.
Here he came to a sudden pause; for, seated a few yards