"I don't need to tell _you_," replied Ned, "that I have no desire to
lead an idle life. But, uncle, I think your terms are very high."

"How so, boy?"

"_Love_ is a very high price to pay for service," replied Ned. "Your
kindness and your generosity in this matter make me very happy and very
grateful, and, perhaps, might make me very obedient and extremely
attentive; but I cannot give you _love_ at any price. I must refuse you
_as an overseer_, but if you will come to me as old Uncle Shirley--"

"Well, well, Ned," interrupted the old gentleman, with a benign smile,
"we'll not dispute about that. Let us now go and take a run round the
grounds."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is needless, dear reader, to prolong our story. Perchance we have
taxed your patience too much already--but we cannot close without a word
or two regarding the subsequent life of those whose fortunes we have
followed so long.

Ned Sinton and old Mr Shirley applied themselves with diligence and
enthusiasm to the cultivation of their farm, and to the cultivation of
the friendship and good-will of their neighbours all round. In both
efforts they were eminently successful.

Ned made many interesting discoveries during his residence at Brixley
Hall, chief among which was a certain Louisa Leslie, with whom he fell
desperately in love--so desperately that his case was deemed hopeless.
Louisa therefore took pity on him, and became Mrs Sinton, to the
unutterable delight of old Mr Shirley--and the cat, both of whom
benefited considerably by this addition to the household.

About the time this event occurred, Ned received a letter from Tom
Collins, desiring him to purchase a farm for him as near to his own as
possible. Tom had been successful as a merchant, and had made a large
fortune--as was often the case in those days--in the course of a year or
two. At first, indeed, he had had a hard struggle, and was more than
once nearly driven, by desperation, to the gaming-table, but Ned's
advice and warnings came back upon him again and again--so he fought
against the temptation manfully, and came off victorious. Improved
trade soon removed the temptation--perhaps we should say that his
heavenly Father took that means to remove it--and at last, as we have
said, he made a fortune, as many had done, in like circumstances, before
him. Ned bought a farm three miles from his own, and, in the course of
a