in the festivities. If you are not lying,
you deserve credit for getting rid of the tutor. See he is packed off
before I come; and see I get no more impertinence from those brats of
yours, unless you wish trouble to their father.

"Yours,--

"R.R."

The receipt of this genial epistle considerably marred the pleasure with
which Captain Oliphant looked forward to the approaching festivities at
Maxfield.

It had been bad enough to have the Oxford scheme and all it involved
fall through. Roger had explained in his pleasant manner that he was
not disposed to accept his guardian's advice as to a University course
at present; and as his decision was backed up by both Mrs Ingleton and
Mr Armstrong, the poor man found himself in a minority, and no nearer a
solution to his difficulties than before.

In addition to this, Roger was every day recovering health, and, in
Rosalind's absence, devoting himself more loyally than ever to his
tutor's direction and instruction.

Altogether Captain Oliphant had a dismal consciousness of being out in
the cold. His carefully thought cut plans seemed to advance no further.
Mrs Ingleton's ill-health was an unlooked-for difficulty. He even
began to suspect that when he did screw himself up to the point of
proposing he should make by no means as easy a conquest of the fair
widow as he had flattered himself. She, good lady, liked him as her
boy's guardian, but in his own personal capacity was disappointingly
indifferent to his attentions.

With all these worries upon him it was little wonder if Mr Ratman's
letters hurt his feelings.

He was very much inclined to throw up the sponge and vanish from the
Maxfield horizon, and might have attempted the feat had not a letter
which arrived on the following day suggested another way out of his
difficulties. It came from America, addressed to the late Squire, and
read thus--

"Dear Ingleton,--I guess you've forgotten the scape-grace brother-in-
law who, thirty-six years ago, on the day you married his sister Ruth,
borrowed a hundred pounds of you without the slightest intention of
paying you back. He has not forgotten you. Your hundred pounds
started me in life right away here, where I am now a boss and mayor of
my city. I've put off being honest as long as I can, but can't well
manage it any longer. I send you back the money in English bank-
notes, and another hundred for interest. It won't do you much good,