aside wisely.

"Now, father, you did praise him last Wednesday. You said he had an
uncommon notion of stock, and a good eye for things."

"Did I?" said Caleb, rather slyly.

"Yes, I put it all down, and the date, anno Domini, and everything,"
said Mary. "You like things to be neatly booked. And then his
behavior to you, father, is really good; he has a deep respect for you;
and it is impossible to have a better temper than Fred has."

"Ay, ay; you want to coax me into thinking him a fine match."

"No, indeed, father. I don't love him because he is a fine match."

"What for, then?"

"Oh, dear, because I have always loved him. I should never like
scolding any one else so well; and that is a point to be thought of in
a husband."

"Your mind is quite settled, then, Mary?" said Caleb, returning to his
first tone. "There's no other wish come into it since things have been
going on as they have been of late?" (Caleb meant a great deal in that
vague phrase;) "because, better late than never. A woman must not
force her heart--she'll do a man no good by that."

"My feelings have not changed, father," said Mary, calmly. "I shall be
constant to Fred as long as he is constant to me. I don't think either
of us could spare the other, or like any one else better, however much
we might admire them. It would make too great a difference to us--like
seeing all the old places altered, and changing the name for
everything. We must wait for each other a long while; but Fred knows
that."

Instead of speaking immediately, Caleb stood still and screwed his
stick on the grassy walk. Then he said, with emotion in his voice,
"Well, I've got a bit of news. What do you think of Fred going to live
at Stone Court, and managing the land there?"

"How can that ever be, father?" said Mary, wonderingly.

"He would manage it for his aunt Bulstrode. The poor woman has been to
me begging and praying. She wants to do the lad good, and it might be
a fine thing for him. With saving, he might gradually buy the stock,
and he has a turn for farming."

"Oh, Fred would be so happy! It is too good to believe."

"Ah, but mind you," said Caleb, turning his head warningly, "I must
take it on _my_ shoulders, and be responsible, and see after
everything; and that will grieve your mother a bit, though she mayn't
say so. Fred had need be careful."

"Perhaps it is too much, father," said Mary, checked in her joy.
"There would be no happi