s was coming nearer.

Abroad matters did not improve. It was true that Stanhope, the English
general, took Minorca. But the cause of Philip of Spain was now
strong. When, therefore, the Whigs demanded that as a condition of
peace Louis should turn his grandson out of Spain, Europe was
astounded. The proposal was impossible, ludicrous. Philip prepared to
go on with the conflict, saying, with fine spirit, "If I must continue
the war, I will contend against my enemies rather than against my own
family." Such was the state of things in the summer of 1709.

We have left a group of ladies and gentlemen standing in the lane all
this time. Matthew had his sister in his arms in a moment, for one of
the ladies was Mary Blackett.

"My sister," Fieldsend said, "and Miss Allan," by way of response to
the inquiring looks of the newcomers. Then George and Matthew learnt
many things that surprised them. They had had no news from home all
the summer, the one letter that had been sent having miscarried.
Binfield Towers was once more occupied, Mr. Fairburn having found an
excellent tenant for the place in Mr. Allan, the eminent
shipping-merchant of London, the very man into whose office George was
to have gone. The little group laughed merrily at the thought of the
gallant Captain Fairburn wielding a long quill in a dingy office. Mr.
Allan, a widower, who had taken up his abode in the mansion, bringing
with him his only daughter, Janet, had not been two months in the
village before he had made an offer of marriage to the devoted Mrs.
Maynard, and the old lady was now mistress of Binfield Towers. Mary
Blackett had thereupon taken at their word the affectionate offer of
the Fairburns, and was now to them as a daughter. Nor was this all.
Fieldsend's old father had lately died, and the Major himself had
succeeded to the baronetcy and had left the army. Brother and sister
had accepted with pleasure the invitation that had come to them to
spend a few weeks with the kindly Mr. and Mrs. Fairburn. Matthew was
to make the same hospitable roof his abode.

"The good old dad will find it a bit of a squeeze," George ruminated,
as he walked with the rest towards the family cottage. Cottage! He
gave a jump when the home came into full view. It was a veritable
mansion. The original nucleus was there, but so deftly added to and
surrounded by a regular series of new wings, and so framed and
embellished by wide lawn and flower-bed that George did not kno