had told many of his friends in
Norfolk that Kate Vavasor had thrown herself at his head, and very
probably he had thought it true. In answer to all his love speeches
to herself, the aunt had always told him what an excellent wife her
niece would make him. So now he had come to Westmoreland with this
second string to his bow. "You know you put it into my head your own
self," pleaded Mr Cheesacre. "Didn't you, now?"

"But things are so different since that," said the widow.

"How different? I ain't different. There's Oileymead just where it
always was, and the owner of it don't owe a shilling to any man. How
are things different?"

"My niece has inherited property."

"And is that to make a change? Oh! Mrs Greenow, who would have
thought to find you mercenary like that? Inherited property! Is she
going to fling a man over because of that?"

Mrs Greenow endeavoured to explain to him that her niece could hardly
be said to have flung him over, and at last pretended to become angry
when he attempted to assert his position. "Why, Mr Cheesacre, I am
quite sure she never gave you a word of encouragement in her life."

"But you always told me I might have her for the asking."

"And now I tell you that you mayn't. It's of no use your going on
there to ask her, for she will only send you away with an answer
you won't like. Look here, Mr Cheesacre; you want to get married,
and it's quite time you should. There's my dear friend Charlie
Fairstairs. How could you get a better wife than Charlie?"

"Charlie Fairstairs!" said Cheesacre, turning up his nose in disgust.
"She hasn't got a penny, nor any one belonging to her. The man who
marries her will have to find the money for the smock she stands up
in."

"Who's mercenary now, Mr Cheesacre? Do you go home and think of it;
and if you'll marry Charlie, I'll go to your wedding. You shan't be
ashamed of her clothing. I'll see to that."

They were now close to the gate, and Cheesacre paused before he
entered. "Do you think there's no chance at all for me, then?" said
he.

"I know there's none. I've heard her speak about it."

"Somebody else, perhaps, is the happy man?"

"I can't say anything about that, but I know that she wouldn't take
you. I like farming, you know, but she doesn't."

"I might give that up," said Cheesacre readily,--"at any rate, for a
time."

"No, no, no; it would do no good. Believe me, my friend, that it is
of no use."

He still paused at the gate. "