k a long time, and the joint when it
reached him was more than half cold. It was, moreover, quite clear that
the aristocracy had not even mastered the rudiments of carving, but
preferred instead to box the compass for tit-bits.

He ate his meal in silence, and when it was over sought out his guest
to administer a few much-needed stage-directions. Owing, however, to the
ubiquity of Jane he wasted nearly the whole of the afternoon before he
obtained an opportunity. Even then the interview was short, the farmer
having to compress into ten seconds instructions for Lord Fairmount to
express a desire to take his meals with the family, and his dinner at
the respectable hour of 1 p.m. Instructions as to a change of bedroom
were frustrated by the reappearance of Jane.

His lordship went for a walk after that, and coming back with a bored
air stood on the hearthrug in the living-room and watched Miss Rose
sewing.

"Very dull place," he said at last, in a dissatisfied voice.

"Yes, my lord," said Miss Rose, demurely.

"Fearfully dull," complained his lordship, stifling a yawn. "What I'm to
do to amuse myself for a fortnight I'm sure I don't know."

Miss Rose raised her fine eyes and regarded him intently. Many a lesser
man would have looked no farther for amusement.

"I'm afraid there is not much to do about here, my lord," she said
quietly. "We are very plain folk in these parts."

"Yes," assented the other. An obvious compliment rose of itself to his
lips, but he restrained himself, though with difficulty. Miss Rose bent
her head over her work and stitched industriously. His lordship took up
a book and, remembering his mission, read for a couple of hours without
taking the slightest notice of her. Miss Rose glanced over in his
direction once or twice, and then, with a somewhat vixenish expression
on her delicate features, resumed her sewing.

"Wonderful eyes she's got," said the gentleman, as he sat on the edge of
his bed that night and thought over the events of the day. "It's pretty
to see them flash."

He saw them flash several times during the next few days, and Mr. Rose
himself, was more than satisfied with the hauteur with which his guest
treated the household.

"But I don't like the way you have with me," he complained.

"It's all in the part," urged his lordship.

"Well, you can leave that part out," rejoined Mr. Rose, with some
acerbity. "I object to being spoke to as you speak to me before that
girl Ann