as though spoke by you. He will
return. Then you will see that father will never hold out when he
has his own son before his eyes."

"Did you hear all that father and I was sayin'?" asked the hostess,
suspiciously.

"I heard him call out against Iver because he altered the
signboard; but that was done a long time agone."

"Nuthin' else?"

"And because he would never make a farmer nor an innkeeper."

"It's a dratted noosence is this here porch," muttered the
hostess. "It ort to 'a been altered ages agone, but lor', heart-alive,
the old man be that stubborn and agin' all change. And you heard
no more?"

"I was busy, mother, and didn't give attention to what didn't
concern me."

"Oh!" said Mrs. Verstage, "only listened, did you, to what did
concern you?"

A fear had come over the hostess lest the girl had caught Simon's
words relative to his notion, rather than intention, of bequeathing
what he had away from Iver and to the child that had been adopted.

Of course, Simon did not seriously purpose doing anything of the
sort. It was foolish, inconsiderate of him to give utterance to
such a thought, and that in such a place as the porch, whence
every whisper was conveyed throughout the interior of the house.

If Mehetabel had overheard his words, what a Fool's Paradise she
might create for herself! How her head might be turned, and what
airs she might give herself.

Leave the farm, the inn, everything to a girl with whom they were
wholly unconnected, and to the detriment of the son. Hoity-toity!
such a thought must not be allowed to settle, to take root, to
spring up and fructify.

"Mother," said the girl, "I think that you ought to write to Iver
with your own hand, though I know it will cost you trouble. But
it need not be in many words. Say he must come himself without
delay and see father. If Iver keeps at a distance the breakage
will never be mended, the wound will never be healed. Father is
a resolute man, but he is tender-hearted under all, and he's ever
been wonderful kind to me."

"Oh, yes, so long as he ain't crossed he's right enough with
anyone," answered Mrs. Verstage quickly. She did not relish the
allusion to the old man's kindness towards Mehetabel, it seemed to
her suspicious heart due to anticipation of what had been hinted
by him. She considered a moment, and determined to have the whole
matter out, and to dash any expectations the girl might have formed
at once and for ever. A direct woma