s
only ten paces nearer the house than he had been when it appeared.

But, somehow, in those few seconds the amused smile on his lips faded
away, and the eye-glass dropped somewhat limply from his eye, as he
repeated to himself more emphatically than before--

"Ridiculous!"

At lunch, Roger innocently broached the question of Hodder's eviction.

"Mother," said he, "what do you think that idiot Pottinger has been up
to? He's taken it into his wise head to threaten to turn old Hodder out
of his cottage unless he pays a higher rent in future. I went to row
him about it, but he's far too dense to see what a scoundrelly thing it
is."

"How shocking!" said Mrs Ingleton. "Poor old Hodder has been in that
place all his life. Your father was always fond of him, Roger. I
wouldn't have him disturbed for the world."

"You'll have to tell Pottinger so yourself," said Roger. "He says he's
bound to screw all he can out of the old chap in my interests, if you
please."

The captain had listened to this parley with anything but comfort, and
was about at this point to explain, when Mr Armstrong seeing his chance
adroitly stepped in.

"You may make yourself easy about the matter, Roger. Evidently Mr
Pottinger has acted most unwarrantably on his own responsibility. I
have been to see him this morning, and told him in future he is not to
take upon himself to do anything about the estate without consulting
Mrs Ingleton, and Captain Oliphant, and myself--"

"Then Hodder is not to be disturbed?" inquired Rosalind.

"I have seen that the notice is withdrawn. I, for one, should certainly
never sanction it."

"Oh, how delightful you are," said the young lady. "How happy you will
have made the poor old man. Father, do get that horrid Pottinger sent
away. He's a monster. I told him so yesterday, but he wouldn't believe
me."

"Rosalind," said her father, whose lunch was not agreeing with him at
all, "it vexes me to see you interfere in matters in which you have no
concern. It seems to me, my dear Eva," he added, addressing Mrs
Ingleton, whom he had already taken to calling by her Christian name,
"that these business questions had much better be left for discussion
among ourselves, and not at the family meal."

"Perhaps so," said Mrs Ingleton; "only we are all so interested in poor
old Hodder, we hardly regard this as a business question. However, I am
delighted to hear it is all right now. I only wish Mr Pottinger had