nd
all the lot of 'em calling me a fool who can't take his glass without
getting drunk; I'll show 'em different. But I'll promise you this:
it's the first time as any one of em, sneaks as they are, could tell
you that I'd been drunk, and it's the last too! You shall hear no more
of it."

"And it's a promise that I tell you honestly you'll not keep," answered
Mr. Curzon, sadly. "But you'll think it over; you won't decide until
to-morrow."

"Yes, sir; I've made up my mind, thank you kindly all the same," said
Tom. "It's a thing I must settle for myself."

"Good night, then; I've nothing more to say except that at any time if
you are in trouble I shall be glad to see you. I don't wish you to
think that this difference of opinion need separate us; although,
remember, I feel sure that I am right and you wrong."

The next morning, when Paul Lessing started for his walk, Tom Burney
stood waiting at the gate.

"Beg your pardon, sir," he said, touching his hat; "but I want to know
if you can give me work?"

Paul turned to the speaker with dawning recognition in his glance.

"Why, aren't you the fellow who gave me a lift for nothing the first
evening I came into the place."

"Yes, sir; I've often thought on it since. I shouldn't have spoke so
free if I'd known who I was talking to."

"Why not?" said Paul, smiling pleasantly. "You sent me to the proper
person to find me a lodging, at any rate; and you certainly spoke no
harm of any one. I thought you told me you worked at the Court.

"So I did, sir; but I'm leaving there on Saturday."

"Of your own free will?"

"Not exactly; I got notice because I came home drunk one night."

"Is that your habit, may I ask? It's a bad one."

"No, sir, it's not," said Tom, lifting fearless eyes. "It was the
first time."

"Let it be the last, then. What kind of work can you do?"

"I've been in the garden; but I know something about horses."

"Well, I'm going to take the management of the home farm that lies near
the Court, into my own hands, and I think I can find you work amongst
the horses. I'll see the bailiff about it, and you can call on
Saturday night, when we will settle the question of wages."

Tom's heart gave a joyful throb! A place on the farm close to the
Court would give him opportunities of many a stolen interview with
Rose; and if he showed himself willing and ready to do the thing that
came to his hand, he might rise to the position of bailiff befo