ure to make upon her, if she did not perceive
(as she was not likely to do unaided) that her jests were specially
ill-timed. So she went on talking.

"They are to shut up the Cottage, and I have promised to look into it
occasionally and see that it is kept in repair, but I think their
greatest difficulty is about poor Mr. Leigh, whom Maurice left in their
care. I do not know what he will do without them."

"I suppose there is news of Maurice? You have not sent me any."

"He found his grandfather ill, and in great want of some one of his own
family about him; but not, I fancy, at all likely to die. He is slightly
paralysed and unable to move without help, or to amuse himself in any
way. Poor Maurice seems to have no easy life as far as I can judge."

"Did his grandfather receive him kindly?"

"Very much so, he says. Maurice is like his mother, and that pleased the
old man greatly. He introduced him to everybody as his heir."

"Instead of saying 'Poor Maurice,' you ought to say 'Lucky Maurice.'
His head will be quite turned."

Mrs. Bellairs smiled. "No fear," she answered. "His heart is in Canada
still, and that will keep his head steady."

"What does he say to this move of the Costellos?"

"How can he say anything? It is not three weeks since your marriage, and
they knew nothing of it themselves then."

"True, I forgot. I feel as if I had been married a year."

"Not complimentary to the Doctor, if his company is what has made the
time seem so long."

"You know very well I don't mean that--only I feel quite settled down
into a married woman."

"Do you really? No one would guess it. But what can our two husbands be
doing all this time?"

"Here they come. Positively stopping in the hall for a few last words.
Treason, no doubt, or they would come in at once, and let us hear."

Treason it was in one sense certainly, for the two gentlemen were
discussing a subject which they knew would be displeasing to Bella, if
not to both their wives, and which they meant to keep carefully to
themselves. It related to Bella's unprofitable farm on Beaver Creek,
which her husband was resolved to turn to better account, and from which
he had, immediately after his marriage, desired Mr. Bellairs to use the
shortest method of ejecting the tenants who now occupied it. Something
had already been done, but Doctor Morton fancied too tardily, and he had
been urging upon his brother-in-law more vigorous measures. The
conclusion of th