ing an excuse for
her mistake; "a beautiful old portrait--a sort of--I don't recollect
what it was."

"Ah! that puts me in mind of what he speaks of often--the pictures in
our house. I say, aunt," she continued, as if a thought had struck
her.

"Well?"

"Suppose I were to invite him to come into the Hall and see the
portraits?"

"Well, so you might. Your father would think he was as fond of drawing
as you are; and if he be the person I think he is, your father will be
delighted that you have made a friend of him."

"Indeed? Oh, I'm so happy! I'll ask him to the house this very day;
and perhaps if he says anything, aunt, about the treasure, you can be
in the way to hear it."

"That I will, and I'll bring your father, too. There's nothing like a
father or brother in cases of the kind. If I had had a brother that
would fight, I might have been married myself. Dear me, what an
uncommon handsome young man in the avenue! I know him to be a lord by
his walk."

Miss Arabel stretched her neck, and nearly strained her eyeballs in
the effort to follow the direction of Susannah's eyes.

"That's he," she said; "go now, and leave me to get him into the
house."

"He can't be any relation of Thomas Roe: he's too handsome for that,"
thought Miss Susannah; "but whoever he is, she'll be a lucky girl to
catch him. My Sam was a foot or two taller, but very like him in every
other respect--except the limp in the left leg."

As she turned back before entering the house, she saw the young people
in full conversation in the shrubbery walk.

"Well, if he _is_ old Thomas Roe's grandson, and Arabel can hook him
into a marriage, there will be no occasion to leave Surbridge Hall.
Does the monster wish us to be tallow-chandlers again?"

On hurrying to the drawing-room to communicate to her nephew the fact
that Mr Roe's heir was desperately in love with Arabel, she found Mr
Gillingham Howard endeavouring to carry on a conversation with the
very individual she most dreaded to see. Mr Roe had walked up,
accompanied by Fanny Smith, to return the visit of the day before.

"This is so kind," said Miss Susannah, "and so friendly to bring your
pretty grandchild. Our girls will be delighted to be her friends."

"Fanny's a good girl," replied the old man; "and you mustn't spoil
her. Gus was just going to tell me if he had made up his mind, when
you came in. You've thought of my offer, Gus?"

"Certainly; any thing you say shall always have