for any one else, I should like to know?"

"Perhaps she made some such discovery at Ryde for me."

"She told me of your meeting with the Gardiners there. Poor Julia! I
wish it could be Julia, Cecil."

"I doubt whether it will ever be Miss Fairfax, Mary. She is the oddest
mixture of wit and simplicity."

"Perhaps she has some old prepossession? She would not be persuaded
against her will."

"All her prepossessions are in favor of her friends in the Forest. There
was a young fellow for whom she had a childish fondness--he was at
Bayeux when I called upon her there."

"Harry Musgrave? Oh, they are like brother and sister; she told me so."

"She is a good girl, and believes it, perhaps; but it is a
brother-and-sisterhood likely to lapse into warmer relations, given the
opportunity. That is what Mr. Fairfax is intent on hindering. My hope
was in her youth, but she is not to be won by the semblance of wooing.
She is either calmly unconscious or consciously discouraging."

"How will Mr. Fairfax bear his disappointment?"

"The recent disclosure of his son Laurence's marriage will lessen that.
It is no longer of the same importance who Miss Fairfax marries. She has
a great deal of character, and may take her own way. She is all anxiety
now to heal the division between the father and son, that she may have
the little boys over at Abbotsmead; and she will succeed before long.
The disclosure was made just in time, supposing it likely to affect my
intentions; but Miss Fairfax is still an excellent match for me--for me
or any gentleman of my standing."

"I fancy Sir Edward Lucas is of that opinion."

"Yes, Sir Edward is quite captivated, but he will easily console
himself. The squire has intimated to him that he has other views for
her; the young man is cool to me in consequence."

Miss Burleigh became reflective: "Miss Fairfax's position is changed,
Cecil. A good connexion and a good dower are one thing, and an heiress
presumptive to Kirkham is another. Perhaps you would as lief remain a
bachelor?"

"If Miss Fairfax prove impregnable--yes."

"You will test her, then?"

"Surely. It is in the bond. I have had her help, and will pay her the
compliment."

Miss Burleigh regarded her brother with almost as much perplexity as she
regarded Miss Fairfax. The thought passed through her mind that he did
not wish even her to suspect how much his feelings were engaged in the
pursuit of that uncertain young lady because he a