o bold, but it will grieve
the good man, if he knows you've come. And there's a-many will be
disappointed not to catch a sight of you, besides.'

"'Whom do you mean by the good man?'

"'There now! it slipped out without thinking. But it's what my John
and I call Mr. Curzon, for we've never come across such a one as he.'

"'And why am I to be a sort of show to the others?' I asked with some
curiosity.

"'Ah! Because some of them begin to guess now who you are--not that
John nor I are much given to talk. But when a neighbour asks your
name, we couldn't keep it no longer--could we, sir?'

"'Certainly not. And they will all see me sooner or later, though it
won't be at church to-night. I hope soon to know every one in the
place.'

"So finally I've been left in charge of the cottage, and have been
writing ever since this long rigmarole to you. Mrs. Macdonald's words
have given me food for reflection, and, the more I reflect, the more
fully convinced I am how thoroughly unfitted I am to fill the place
allotted to me. Had Major Lessing left me money enough to carry out my
own wishes, I should have been inclined to put his property in the
hands of a capable, fair agent, and do with it as Major Lessing
suggested, and keep things very much as they are; but I find that I
shall have little independent income apart from the property. To keep
things in really working repair I shall probably have to raise the
rents--which are absurdly low--which, of course, will be a very
unpopular movement; and my being willing to live as simply as any of my
tenants, will not in the least soften their feeling towards me. I
shall not do anything in a hurry, but I shall first try and master my
position. After so many years of a non-resident squire of a strictly
conservative type, there must be need for improvements; but here again
comes in the question of money. I am afraid that trip abroad must be
put off for the present. How would it be for you to come here for a
bit? I will sound Mrs. Macdonald on the subject to-morrow. If I
undertake the management of things here myself, you would help me with
accounts, etc., and I could take you on as my paid secretary! However
this is looking too far ahead. I will keep this letter open and tell
you the result of my advances to-morrow."

"Monday Evening.

"I approached Mrs. Macdonald with much diplomacy this morning. She
gave me the opening I sought by saying, when I ordered my dinner