for it, mind that."

"Where's your snuff-box, granny?" said Mr Mervyn, bringing out a small
canister from his pocket.

"Oh, it's here," said the old lady, fishing out and opening her box to
show it was quite empty. "I don't know that I want any, though."

"Try that," said Mr Mervyn, filling it full; and the old lady took a
pinch. "That's not bad, is it?"

"N-n-no, it's not bad," said the old lady, "but I've had better."

"No doubt," said Mr Mervyn, smiling.

"By the way, Mrs Trelyan, how old are you?"

"Ninety next month," said the old lady; "and--dear, dear, what a bother
visitors are. Here's somebody else coming."

For at that moment there was a firm step heard without, and some one
stooped and entered the doorway, hardly seeing the group on his left in
the gloomy room.

"Is Mrs Trelyan at home?" he said; and Tiny Rea laid her hand upon her
sisters arm.

"Yes, young man," said the old lady, shading her eyes, and gazing at the
strongly-built figure before her. "I'm Mrs Trelyan, and what may you
want?"

"To see how you are, granny. I'm Richard Trevor."

"And--and--" cried the old woman, letting fall her net as she rose
slowly and laid her hand upon his arm; "and only a minute ago I was
talking about you, and declaring you'd never be such a man as your
father. My dear boy, how you have grown."

"One does grow in twelve years, granny," said the young man. "Well, I'm
glad to see you alive and hearty."

"Thank you, my boy," said the old lady; and then turning and pointing to
the wall, "Look!" she said, "that's the very stick that I took away from
you one day for teasing my hens. You were a bad boy. You know you
were."

"I suppose I was," said the young man, smiling. "But I beg pardon; you
have company, granny."

"Oh, that's only Mr Mervyn, my dear, and he's going; and those are only
the two girls from Tolcarne. I let them come and see me sometimes, but
they're going now."

"Mr Mervyn," said the young man, holding out his hand, which was taken
in a strong grip, "I am glad to meet so near a neighbour; perhaps you
will introduce me to the ladies?"

"That I will," said Mr Mervyn, heartily. "Mr Trevor!"

"It's Squire Trevor now, Mr Mervyn," said the old lady, with some show
of impatience.

"I beg pardon," said Mr Mervyn, smiling. "Squire Trevor, your very
near neighbours, Miss Rea, Miss Finetta Rea, of Tolcarne."

"Ladies whom I have had the pleasure of meeting before," said Trevor,
with