in H

le's character. However imprudent he might have been in his earlier days, he was now quite alive to the importance of being Squire of Llanfeare. There was nothing that he was not ready to do to please and conciliate his uncle. Llanfeare without Isabel as a burden would no doubt be preferable, but he was quite ready to marry Isabel to-morrow, if Isabel would only accept him. The game he had to play was for Llanfeare. It was to be Llanfeare or nothing. The position o

sfully, he would at any rate be safe. Should she be persistent in refusing him, which he believed to be probable, then he would have shown himself desirous of carrying out his uncle's wishes. As to all this he was clear-sighted enough. But he did not quite perceive the state of his uncle's mind in regard to himself. He did not understand how painfully the old man was still vacillating between affection and duty; nor did he f

ning of his arrival. Whereupon Uncle Indefer grunted. The more he saw of the man, the less he himself liked

ve reference

ly. As she is not to be the heiress, the

corn which must have been very hard to bear. And it was unjust too, as the unfortunate nephew had

she would accept my hand, she would have pretty nea

he place. There is not one of them who does not love her. And so they ought, for she has been their be

f she will consent to

pty grate, and pretending now and again to read an old newspaper which was lying on the table, while his uncle fumed and grunted. During every moment that was so passed Uncle Indefer was asking himself whether that British custom as to male heirs was absolutely essential to the welfare of the country. Here were two persons suggested to his mind, one of whom was to be his future successor. One of them was undoubtedly the sweetest human being that had

was ever so sweet, duty was duty. Who was he that he should dare to say to himself that he could break through what he believed to be a law on his conscience without a sin? If he might permit himself to make a special exemption for himself in the indulgence of his own affection, then why might not another, and another, and so on? Did he not know that it would ha

as regarded himself, he was well enough disposed to do so. He was a man with no strong affections, but also with no strong aversions,-except that at present he had a strong affection for Llanfeare, and a strong aversion to the monotonous office in which he was wont to earn his daily bread up in London. A

ay in two or three d

. I am to sta

e to leave us! But I suppose it is best that

aid Isabel, who would not allow it to be suppose

to say. She could see by the anxiety displayed in his face, and by a more than usually unnatural tone in his voice, that he was about to make his proposi

think he always tell

e propert

he loves you the best, but because he thinks it ought to go to the male heir. I quite agree with him that these th

s the effect

l be the same. You will have the proper

u will

t never was mine,"

t both have it,-one a

can't

t I wish, and what he wishes als

ise. She knew that she should not have expressed herse

should we not-marry, you know? Then th

hen it

approached her as though about to make so

l tell you why we cannot do that.

t learn t

me. Now let there be an end of it. Uncle Indefer h

, just saying that

done it. Then let there be an end of it. I would not marry an angel even to o

els," he said, trying s

even to oblige him, would I undertake to marry a man even if I were near to loving him. I shou

abel?" he as

e-because you a

abe

n, why did you ask so foolish a question? Did I not tell you to let there

ate her, though he was anxious to repress his hatred,

ecause it is his duty. Unless you do something to displease him very greatly, he will make no further change. Do not trouble him more than you can help by talking to him on things that are distasteful. Anything in regard to me, coming from you, will be distasteful to him. You had better go about among the farms, and see th

; nor would he hold any further special conversation with her. Of course, she was hateful to him, having declared so plainly to hi

e to himself,-and so he thought, no doubt, was hers as to herself. It might be that the old man's intention would depend upon his obedience, and

roof here or a half-hung door there, he displayed his zeal by telling the Squire of these defaults. But the Squire hated to hear of such defaults. It m

el was gone he decl

as refused me," he said in a mela

id you

I did as you w

own your throat wh

,-very. Of course, I

not any

that you

wonder how you could have had the courage to ask her. I don't suppose

I percei

just as though you were going to buy a horse! I suppose you

, altogether astounded and put beyond

, why, then you can go shares with me in the property. That was the kind of thing, was

en him, but yet he could not bring himself to believe that the advice had been disinterested. Why should Isabel have given hi