APTER VIII.

"Br the Lord, Harry!" cried the squire, as he stood with his wife in the
park, on a visit of inspection to some first-rate Southdowns just added
to his stock,--"by the Lord, if that is not Randal Leslie trying to get
into the park at the back gate! Hollo, Randal! you must come round by
the lodge, my boy," said he. "You see this gate is locked to keep out
trespassers."

"A pity," said Randal. "I like short cuts, and you have shut up a very
short one."

"So the trespassers said," quoth the squire; "but Stirn insisted on
it--valuable man, Stirn. But ride round to the lodge. Put up your horse,
and you'll join us before we can get to the house."

Randal nodded and smiled, and rode briskly on. The squire rejoined his
Harry.

"Ah, William," said she, anxiously, "though certainly Randal Leslie
means well, I always dread his visits."

"So do I, in one sense," quoth the squire, "for he always carries away a
bank-note for Frank."

"I hope he is really Frank's friend," said Mrs. Hazeldean. "Who's else
can he be? Not his own, poor fellow, for he will never accept a shilling
from me, though his grandmother was as good a Hazeldean as I am. But,
zounds, I like his pride, and his economy too. As for Frank--"

"Hush, William!" cried Mrs. Hazeldean, and put her fair hand before
the squire's mouth. The squire was softened, and kissed the fair hand
gallantly,--perhaps he kissed the lips too; at all events, the worthy
pair were walking lovingly arm-in-arm when Randal joined them.

He did not affect to perceive a certain coldness in the manner of Mrs.
Hazeldean, but began immediately to talk to her about Frank; praise that
young gentleman's appearance; expatiate on his health, his popularity,
and his good gifts, personal and mental,--and this with so much warmth,
that any dim and undeveloped suspicions Mrs. Hazeldean might have formed
soon melted away.

Randal continued to make himself thus agreeable, until the squire,
persuaded that his young kinsman was a first-rate agriculturalist,
insisted upon carrying him off to the home-farm; and Harry turned
towards the house; to order Randal's room to be got ready: "For," said
Randal, "knowing that you will excuse my morning dress, I venture to
invite myself to dine and sleep at the Hall."

On approaching the farm-buildings, Randal was seized with the terror of
an impostor; for, despite all the theoretical learning on Bucolics and
Georgics with which he had dazzled the squi