al admirable qualities in Edward Tredgold which he felt sure must
have escaped her notice. The surprise with which Miss Drewitt greeted
them all confirmed him in this opinion, and he was glad to think that he
had called her attention to them ere it was too late.

"He's very popular in Binchester," he said, impressively. "Chalk told me
that he is surprised he has not been married before now, seeing the way
that he is run after."

"Dear me!" said his niece, with suppressed viciousness.

The captain smiled. He resolved to stand out for a long engagement when
Mr. Tredgold came to him, and to stipulate also that they should not
leave Binchester. An admirer in London to whom his niece had once or
twice alluded--forgetting to mention that he was only ten--began to fade
into what the captain considered proper obscurity.

Mr. Edward Tredgold reaped some of the benefits of this conversation when
he called a day or two afterwards. The captain was out, but, encouraged
by Mr. Tasker, who represented that his return might be looked for at any
moment, he waited for over an hour, and was on the point of departure
when Miss Drewitt entered.

"I should think that you must be tired of waiting?" she said, when he had
explained.

"I was just going," said Mr. Tredgold, as he resumed his seat. "If you
had been five minutes later you would have found an empty chair. I
suppose Captain Bowers won't be long now?"

"He might be," said the girl.

"I'll give him a little while longer if I may," said Mr. Tredgold. "I'm
very glad now that I waited--very glad indeed."

There was so much meaning in his voice that Miss Drewitt felt compelled
to ask the reason.

"Because I was tired when I came in and the rest has done me good,"
explained Mr. Tredgold, with much simplicity. "Do you know that I
sometimes think I work too hard?"

Miss Drewitt raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "Indeed!--I am very
glad that you are rested," she added, after a pause.

"Thank you," said Mr. Tredgold, gratefully. "I came to see the captain
about a card-table I've discovered for him. It's a Queen Anne, I
believe; one of the best things I've ever seen. It's poked away in the
back room of a cottage, and I only discovered it by accident."

"It's very kind of you," said Miss Drewitt, coldly, "but I don't think
that my uncle wants any more furniture; the room is pretty full now."

"I was thinking of it for your room," said Mr. Tredgold.

"Thank you,