ale, decided
on Christie Morrison, because her temper was golden and her figure fine,
and her character above reproach. As for Bassett, he had a flat face, like
a skate, with a slit for a mouth and little pin-point eyes overhung with
red hair. He was forty-five and growing bald and his left leg gave at the
knee. He was a good sort really, and did kind things for his poorer
neighbours. There was a touch of the romantical in him also, and he liked
the thought of marrying a pretty girl and making her mistress of his plum
orchards and mother of his heir. Because his first had failed him in that
matter.

And now, as Fox ferried William over the water on a crisp October morning,
he bade him waste no more time, but begin to court Christie like a lover
if so be he wanted her.

"We're your side as you know," said Jimmy Fox, "and my wife and I are very
wishful to see it happen; but you've got to set on to her, for she's young
and a fine sight in the eyes of her own generation. In fact she may fall
in love any minute with something better to look at than you."

But William weren't frightened of that.

"She's got a lot of sense, and knows which side her bread is buttered," he
said. "She won't trouble about another when she hears I want her. Because
she knows my character, and can count on having a very good time along
with me. I'll ax her to tea Sunday, and tell her I'll wed her when she
pleases. No need to waste time love-making with a shrewd piece like her.
She'll come to me and we'll be married afore Christmas. Then she'll know
what it is to wed a romantical man."

"I hope you'll find it as easy as you think for," answered Jimmy, "but you
can't take nothing for granted with a maiden girl. However, as you wish it
and I wish it, so it's got to be. We've brought her up, and her future
lies with us."

"And me," added Bassett, and then the boat touched and he was across.

Christie got her invite to tea that evening and agreed to go. Her aunt had
given her an inkling of what was coming; but she hadn't given her aunt an
inkling of what had already come, though she might have, and when Polly
Fox told her that William wanted her on a very delicate errand, and she
must put on her best and look her best, Christie said nothing of the big
matter in her own mind. For she very well knew that the Saturday before
she went to tea at Mr. Bassett's big red house in the plum orchards, she
was promised for a walk to Edmund Master's, and she ha