om, and Wilfrid was about to start to the other end of the
farm when Mr. Atherton called him.

"Come and join our consultation, Wilfrid. You are as much concerned in
it as any of us, and I rely upon your assistance to bring round these
two very obstinate people to my side of the question. I should say our
side, for of course Marion is one with me in the matter. You see, I am a
rich man, Wilfrid--really a rich man, and I naturally wish that Marion
should be made as happy as possible. I do not think she would be as
happy as possible if she were in England with me, with a nice place in
the country, and a town-house, and most things that money could bring
her, if she knew that her father and mother were out here living a life
which, although they have admirably adapted themselves to it, is yet
very different to that to which they have been all their lives
accustomed.

"Now, owing to this absurd freak of my aunt in making me her heir when
my income was already five times as much as I could spend, I have the
nuisance of a large landed estate on my hands. There is a large house
upon it which I suppose Marion and I will have to occupy occasionally;
and there is another house, which is known as the dower house, and which
is a very snug and comfortable abode. Now, it is quite clear that I am
the last sort of man to look after an estate. It would worry me most out
of my mind, and would be a perpetual annoyance.

"What I propose is that your father and mother shall come home and take
possession of the dower house, and that your father should act as my
agent. Living on the spot, he would be able to keep an eye on the
tenants, receive rents, and that sort of thing, and still be able to
devote a considerable portion of his time to his favourite pursuits. I
should have the advantage of having an agent I could absolutely rely
upon, and Marion and I would have the comfort of having her father and
mother close at hand. It would be a little lonely for you for a bit,
Wilfrid; but you are nearly nineteen now, and will, unless I am
mistaken, ere many years have passed be bringing a mistress to The
Glade. I fancy you go over to Mitford's a good deal oftener than there
is any absolute occasion for, and although Kate is only sixteen yet, I
have a shrewd suspicion that you have both pretty well made up your
minds about the future."

Wilfrid coloured and laughed. "I don't know that we are as far advanced
as that; but I do hope that some day it