aine of old workmanship. The squire saw, and wondered why such a
very pretty woman, who possessed such very pretty things, should choose
to come and live in his cottage in the parish of Billingsfield. And
having seen and wondered he became interested in his charming tenant and
endeavoured to carry on the conversation in a more confidential strain.

CHAPTER V.

"You have done more towards beautifying the cottage than I could have
hoped to do," said Mr. Juxon, leaning back in his chair and resting one
hand on Stamboul's great head.

"It was very pretty of itself," answered Mrs. Goddard, "and fortunately
it is not very big, or my things would look lost in it."

"I should not say that--you have so many beautiful things. They seem to
suit the place so well. I am sure you will never think of taking them
away."

"Not if I can help it--I am too glad to be quiet."

"You have travelled a great deal, Mrs. Goddard?" asked the squire.

"No--not exactly that--only a little, after all. I have not been to
Constantinople for instance," she added looking at the hound Mr. Juxon
had brought from the East. "You are indeed a traveller."

"I have travelled all my life," said the squire, indifferently, as though
the subject of his wanderings did not interest him. "From what little I
have seen of Billingsfield I fancy you will find all the quiet you could
wish, here. Really, I realise that at my own gate I must come to you for
information. What sort of man is that excellent rector down there, whom I
met last night?"

The squire's tone became more confidential as he put the question.

"Well--he is not a rector, to begin with," answered Mrs. Goddard with a
smile, "he is the vicar, and he is a most good man, whom I have always
found most kind."

"I can readily fancy that," said Mr. Juxon. "But his wife seems to be of
the severe type."

"No--she struck me so at first, too. I think it is only with strangers.
She is such a motherly sort of woman, you do not know! She only has that
little manner when you first meet her."

"What a strange thing that is!" remarked the squire, looking at Mrs.
Goddard. "The natural belief of English people in each other's depravity
until they have had time to make acquaintance! And is there no one else
here--no doctor--no doctor's wife?"

"Not a soul," answered Mrs. Goddard. "There is a doctor, but the vicarage
suspects him of free thought. He certainly never goes to church. He has
no wife."

"T