h a
thing being done in his time. The Manor wood wanted thinning very badly.
The wood had been a good deal neglected. "My Lord" had never liked to
hear the axe going. That was Grumby Green and the boundary of the estate
in that direction. The next farm was college property, and was rented
five shillings an acre dearer than "My Lord's" land. If Mr. Neville
wished it the steward would show him the limit of the estate on the
other side to-morrow. No doubt there was a plan of the estate. It was
in "My Lord's" own room, and would shew every farm with its acreage and
bounds. Fred thought that he would study this plan on the next day
instead of riding about with the steward.

He could not escape from the feeling that he was being taught his lesson
like a school-boy, and he did not like it. He longed for the freedom
of his boat on the Irish coast, and longed for the devotedness of Kate
O'Hara. He was sure that he loved her so thoroughly that life without
her was not to be regarded as possible. But certain vague ideas very
injurious to the Kate he so dearly loved crossed his brain. Under the
constant teaching of his aunt he did recognize it as a fact that he
owed a high duty to his family. For many days after that first night at
Scroope not a word was said to him about Kate O'Hara. He saw his uncle
daily,--probably twice a day; but the Earl never alluded to his Irish
love. Lady Scroope spoke constantly of the greatness of the position
which the heir was called upon to fill and of all that was due to the
honour of the family. Fred, as he heard her, would shake his head
impatiently, but would acknowledge the truth of what she said. He was
induced even to repeat the promise which he had made to his uncle,
and to assure his aunt that he would do nothing to mar or lessen the
dignity of the name of Neville. He did become, within his own mind,
indoctrinated with the idea that he would injure the position of the
earldom which was to be his were he to marry Kate O'Hara. Arguments
which had appeared to him to be absurd when treated with ridicule by
Father Marty, and which in regard to his own conduct he had determined
to treat as old women's tales, seemed to him at Scroope to be true
and binding. The atmosphere of the place, the companionship of Miss
Mellerby, the reverence with which he himself was treated by the
domestics, the signs of high nobility which surrounded him on all sides,
had their effect upon him. Noblesse oblige. He felt t