ot know how it would quite delight him! He loves books so much,
and then you know," she added in a confidential manner, "he has never
stayed in a country house in his life, I am quite sure."

"And when is he coming down?" asked Mr. Juxon. "I should be very much
pleased to have him."

"To-morrow, I think," said Mrs. Ambrose.

"Well--would you ask him from me to come up and stop a week? Can you
spare him, Mrs. Ambrose? I know you are very fond of him, of course,
but--"

"Oh very," said she warmly. "But I think it likely he will stay some
time," she added in explanation of her willingness to let him go to the
Hall.

The squire felt vaguely that the presence of a guest in his house would
probably be a restraint upon him, and he felt that some restraint would
be agreeable to him at the present time.

"Besides," added Mrs. Ambrose, "if you would like to have him
first--there is a little repair necessary in his room at the vicarage--we
have put it off too long--"

"By all means." said the squire, following out his own train of thought.
"Send him up to me as soon as he comes. If I can manage it I will be down
here to ask him myself."

"It is so good of you," said Mrs. Ambrose.

"Not at all. Are you going to the cottage?"

"Yes--why?"

"Nothing," said Mr. Juxon. "I did not know whether you would like to walk
on a little farther with me. Good-bye, then. You will tell Short as soon
as he comes, will you not?"

"Certainly," replied Mrs. Ambrose, still beaming upon him. "I will not
let him unpack his things at the vicarage. Good-bye--so many thanks."

CHAPTER XVIII.

Mrs. Goddard's head ached "terrible bad" according to Martha, and when
the vicar left her she went and lay down upon her bed, with a sensation
that if the worst were not yet over she could bear no more. But she had
an elastic temperament, and the fact of having consulted Mr. Ambrose that
morning had been a greater relief than she herself suspected. She felt
that he could be trusted to save Mr. Juxon from harm and Walter from
capture, and having once confided to him the important secret which had
so heavily weighed upon her mind she felt that the burthen of her
troubles was lightened. Mr. Juxon could take any measures he pleased for
his own safety; he would probably choose to stay at home until the danger
was past. As for her husband, Mary Goddard did not believe that he would
return a third time, for she thought that she had thoroughly frighten