mmending you to a good appointment for which your
talents peculiarly fit you. You will find Pearson thoroughly
trustworthy, and as he advises you to stay for a short time with him in
his farm in the fens, I would advise you to accept his invitation. You
will meet persons there who will be able to forward your interests, and
you will besides find ample amusement of various sorts during your stay.
You will come in now, and take some refreshment," he observed; "and my
daughter Alethea will be happy to welcome you. We may possibly have
some visitors at supper, who are engaged in a certain important
undertaking, but do not mention to them, and especially to my daughter,
having met me last night. I know that I can trust you, but I am
unwilling to implicate others in the matter I have in hand."

As Jack, in company with the Squire, was about to enter the house, he
saw a horseman ride out of the courtyard, and kissing his hand to
Alethea, who stood at a window overlooking the avenue, take the way
towards Nottingham. A second glance at the horseman, though already at
some distance, convinced Jack that he was his brother Jasper. He loved
his brother. His first impulse was to shout out to him, and to call him
back, that he might make inquiries about home, but then, recollecting
the accusations brought against him, he dreaded Jasper's rebukes in the
presence of the Squire; and next, for the first time in his life, a
feeling of jealousy stole over him. Had Jasper--the quiet, studious
unassuming Jasper--been paying court to the fair heiress of Harwood
Grange? And how had Alethea received him?

The Squire having stepped on in front to open a door, prevented him from
asking any questions, and he presently found himself ushered into the
hall. A shout from Mr Harwood brought Alethea into the open gallery at
one end of it; and seeing Jack, she at once came down-stairs. She
greeted him in a friendly way, and then, not without some embarrassment,
told him that he had narrowly missed seeing his brother.

"Had I known of your coming, I would have begged him to stop and meet
you," she said, looking, however, down on the floor as she spoke. "You
will, however, probably overtake him if you go on to Nottingham
to-night, or you will see him with the rest of your family to-morrow."

Jack replied that circumstances would prevent him returning home. He
naturally felt disinclined to tell Alethea more of the truth than was
necessary. T