but I reckon I'll sleep better at night to have got rid of it. I saw
in the papers the death of my sister, and her son, my nephew. Such is
life! I got more good from that marriage than she did. I take for
granted you are still in the old place, and, like all the Ingletons I
ever met, alive and kicking.

"Yours out of debt,--

"Ralph Headland."

Captain Oliphant read and re-read this curious letter, and hummed a tune
to himself. He gave a professional twitch to each of the hundred-pound
notes, and held them up one after the other to the light. Then he
examined the post-mark on the envelope, and failed to decipher the name
of the town.

"Very singular," said he to himself, tapping his fingers on the
envelope. "Quite like a chapter in a story. Really it restores one's
faith in one's fellow-man to find honesty asserting itself in this way
after thirty-six years' suppression. Our dear one must have forgotten
this debt years ago; or written it off as a gift. I'm sure he would not
have liked to accept it now. Very singular indeed!"

Then he hummed on for five minutes, and tried to recall what he had been
thinking about before the letter came. He fancied it was about Ratman.
Yes, Ratman was a bad man, and must be got rid of, not so much on the
captain's account as for the sake of the innocent darlings whose
happiness he threatened.

And as if there were some connection between the two ideas, captain
Oliphant abstractedly put the two notes into his own pocket, and
proceeded thoughtfully to tear up the letter and envelope of the
American mayor.

He had hardly completed this function when the door opened and Rosalind
sailed in, looking particularly charming after a breezy walk across the
park.

She had rarely seen her father in better and more amiable spirits.

"Ah, my dear child," said he; "it does one good to see you again. A
week's absence is a long time. And how are you getting on at the
Vicarage?"

"They are awfully kind to me," said Rosalind, "and I like my little
pupils. I half wish it was harder work. As it is, I get time for a
little art in between lessons. I've come over to-day to finish my
picture of the old tower for Roger's birthday."

"Ah, to be sure. The dear boy's birthday is getting near. We shall
depend on you to help us here on the day, Rosalind. So they make you
happy, do they? I am very glad to hear it. Have you all you want?"

"Everything, dear father; and