is will was dated years before. But oh,
Dixon, what must I do? They will make me leave Ford Bank, I see. I
think the trustees have half let it already."

"But you'll have the rent on't, I reckon?" asked he, anxiously. "I've
many a time heerd 'em say as it was settled on the missus first, and then
on you."

"Oh, yes, it is not that; but you know, under the beech-tree--"

"Ay!" said he, heavily. "It's been oftentimes on my mind, waking, and I
think there's ne'er a night as I don't dream of it."

"But how can I leave it!" Ellinor cried. "They may do a hundred
things--may dig up the shrubbery. Oh! Dixon, I feel as if it was sure to
be found out! Oh! Dixon, I cannot bear any more blame on papa--it will
kill me--and such a dreadful thing, too!"

Dixon's face fell into the lines of habitual pain that it had always
assumed of late years whenever he was thinking or remembering anything.

"They must ne'er ha' reason to speak ill of the dead, that's for
certain," said he. "The Wilkinses have been respected in Hamley all my
lifetime, and all my father's before me, and--surely, missy, there's ways
and means of tying tenants up from alterations both in the house and out
of it, and I'd beg the trustees, or whatever they's called, to be very
particular, if I was you, and not have a thing touched either in the
house, or the gardens, or the meadows, or the stables. I think, wi' a
word from you, they'd maybe keep me on i' the stables, and I could look
after things a bit; and the Day o' Judgment will come at last, when all
our secrets will be made known wi'out our having the trouble and the
shame o' telling 'em. I'm getting rayther tired o' this world, Miss
Ellinor."

"Don't talk so," said Ellinor, tenderly. "I know how sad it is, but, oh!
remember how I shall want a friend when you're gone, to advise me as you
have done to-day. You're not feeling ill, Dixon, are you?" she
continued, anxiously.

"No! I'm hearty enough, and likely for t' live. Father was eighty-one,
and mother above the seventies, when they died. It's only my heart as is
got to feel so heavy; and as for that matter, so is yours, I'll be bound.
And it's a comfort to us both if we can serve him as is dead by any care
of ours, for he were such a bright handsome lad, with such a cheery face,
as never should ha' known shame."

They rode on without much more speaking. Ellinor was silently planning
for Dixon, and he, not caring to look forward to the fut