WYLDER'S HAJVD.
47
"Yes, of course, he knows Greek poets and Latin fa-
thers, and all the rest of it. I dare say he's the kind of
fellow you'd like very well, Radie." And his sly eyes
had a twinkle in them which seemed to say, " perhaps I've
divined your secret."
"And so I do, and I like his wife, too, very much."
"His wife! So William has married on £180 a
year ;" and the Captain laughed quietly, but very pleas-
antly again.
"On a very little more, at all events; and I think
they are about the happiest, and I'm sure they are the
best people in this part of the world."
"Well, Radie, I'll see you to-morrow again. You
preserve your good looks wonderfully. I wonder you
haven't become an old woman here."
And he kissed her, and went his way, with a slight
wave of his hand, and his odd smile, as he closed the little
garden gate after him.
Rachel was flushed, and felt oddly; a little stunned and
strange, although she had talked lightly and easily enough.
"I forgot to ask him where he is staying; the Bran-
don Arms, I suppose. I don't at all like his coming
down here after Mark Wylder; what can he mean. He
certainly never would have taken the trouble for me.
What can he want of Mark Wylder? I think he knew
old Mr. Beauchamp. He may be a trustee, but that's
not likely; Mark Wylder was not the person for any
such office. I hope Stanley does not intend trying to ex-
tract money from him; anything rather than that degrada-
tion— than that villany. Stanley was always impracti-
cable, perverse, deceitful, and so foolish with all his cunning
and suspicion — so very foolish. Poor Stanley! He's so
unscrupulous; I don't know what to think. He said he
could force Mark Wylder to leave the country. It must