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 W. H. SMITH & SON'S 
 
 SUBSCRI^ON LIBRARY, 
 
 186,^&AND, LONDON, 
 AND AT tL Railway bookstalls.
 
 a I E> RARY 
 
 OF THE 
 UN IVERSITY 
 or ILLINOIS 
 
 S23 . 
 
 F<3»E>'2d 
 v.|
 
 DOWN IN DEVON 
 
 gi |ast0ral 
 
 BY S. W. FULLOM, 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 TIMB WILL TELL," "THE GEEAT HIGHWAY," ETC., ETC. 
 
 " Now from the town, 
 Buried in smoke and sleep and noisome damps, 
 Oft let me wander o'er the dewy fields, 
 Where freshness breathes." 
 
 Thohbok. 
 
 1^ THREE VOLUMES. 
 VOL. L 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 CHARLES J. SKEET, 10, KING WILLIAM STREET, 
 
 CHARINa CROSS. 
 
 1869. 
 [All Bights reserved.]
 
 I 
 
 4 
 
 
 [BY EXPRESS PERMISSION.] 
 TO HER MAJESTY 
 
 Clje ^lutit 0f tlje Itetfjerlaiibs. 
 
 Madame, 
 
 The following pages, permitted 
 the distinction of appearing under youT^ 
 Majesty's august auspices, exhibit some 
 phases of rural life existing in spots visited 
 by your Majesty not long since. I venture 
 to hope the booh may thus recal to your 
 Majesty some agreeable memories ; though, 
 conscious of many defects, I shoidd feel 
 more diffident in dedicating it to your 
 Majesty, who is so versed in the literature 
 of Europe, if your Majesty's judgment of it
 
 IV DEDICATION. 
 
 tvere not certain to he tempered hy that dis- 
 position which always leads your Majesty to 
 look for merits rather than for faults, 
 
 I have the honour to he, 
 Madame, 
 Your Majesty's most ohedient, and 
 most humhle Servant, 
 
 STEPHEN WATSON FULLOM. 
 Torquay, 1869.^
 
 DOWN IN DEVOK 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ON THE HIGHROAD. 
 
 The village of Chesney and the hamlet of 
 Lorton, its little dependency, are about a 
 mile apart, on the high road from Exeter to 
 Plymouth. The country is open, with the 
 undulations characteristic of Devon, and is 
 visible over the luxuriant hedges, here of 
 moderate height. Thus the eye scans a 
 wide expanse of field and meadow, wood 
 and verdant slope, and everywhere meets a 
 picture, any mark — a cottage, or barn, or 
 clump of trees — forming a centre of effect in 
 such a scene. Midway the hamlet and vil- 
 lage are both in view — tha one in a hollow, 
 
 VOL I. 1
 
 2 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 the other hanging on a rise, and the vene- 
 rable tower of Chesney church can be seen 
 from Lorton. 
 
 A soft sunset was toning the prospect 
 at the moment when it comes under the 
 cognizance of this history. A blaze of red 
 suffused the western sky, and the prolonged 
 shadows of hills and trees were environed 
 with sunshine, though of a dreamy kind, 
 shifting with every moment. The air was 
 balmy, and reached the road laden with the 
 odour of the fields, as Esau with the chase ; 
 red kine and flocks of sheep dotted the pas- 
 ture ; labourers were in the fields ; the black- 
 birds' notes came from the woods ; and all 
 suggested the poetry of rural life. 
 
 These surroundings were surveyed, with- 
 out being noted, by a young man, seated on 
 the stile of a footpath, which broke from 
 the road into the fields. His years might 
 be just over twenty, though his frame lacked 
 the set of that age, and his face had still 
 a boyish look. Nevertheless he embodied 
 the making of a handsome fellow, and a 
 dress suited to country life, but pertaining
 
 ON THE HIGHROAD. 3 
 
 to the upper class, showed him to advan- 
 tage. 
 
 He appeared to be waiting for somebody, 
 and to be rather weary of the task ; for he 
 once or twice looked at his watch, and 
 evinced other signs of impatience. It was 
 nearly half an hour before he caught sight 
 of a young girl, coming up the road from 
 Lorton, when his face brightened, but he 
 made no movement till she arrived abreast 
 of the stile. Then, however, he took a step 
 to her side, though she continued her way 
 along the middle of the road without recog- 
 nising his presence. 
 
 " You are late to-day/' he remarked. " I 
 began to fear you had passed, and that I 
 shouldn't see you." 
 
 The girl made no reply, and slightly 
 averted her face, though with a half-smile, 
 which, not signifying repulse, might be taken 
 as encouragement. The ideal of " sweet 
 seventeen," she could use a smile more 
 safely than words, and more effectively. 
 
 " Come, you ought to praise me for wait- 
 ing so long," resumed the young man. 
 
 1—2
 
 4 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " You waited for your own pleasure, sir, 
 not for mine," she replied, a little haughtily. 
 
 ''Then it is no pleasure to you to see 
 me ?" 
 
 Again the girl was silent, with the same 
 half-smile. 
 
 " No answer !" replied the young man ; 
 " so I shall think I was mistaken, and that 
 you are really gratified at my appearance." 
 
 " It is quite unnecessary to tell me you 
 will think so." 
 
 " Because you imagine I have such a 
 good opinion of myself ?" 
 
 " Precisely." 
 
 " I believe you want to snub me, Letty." 
 
 " How do you know my name is Letty, 
 Mr. Granby, and who gave you permission 
 to call me so ?" 
 
 "You don't want me to call you Miss 
 Eivers ?" 
 
 " Of course I do." 
 
 " I thought we had got beyond that," 
 returned Ealph Granby, trying to cover his 
 embarrassment with a laugh. 
 
 "I don't know what reason you could
 
 ON THE HIGH ROAD. 5 
 
 have for thinking so, or what you mean by 
 being bei/ond ii" rejoined Letty, with an in- 
 jured air. 
 
 "Well, I considered we were now good 
 friends, and might dispense with formalities. 
 And I can tell you I intend it shall be so, 
 too, Letty." 
 
 "Perhaps I intend quite the reverse." 
 " Nothing could be better arranged, and 
 I see we shall go on swimmingly. I only 
 stipulate that you are not to be so late 
 another day. It is very tantalising to wait 
 half an hour at the stile with no better 
 amusement than watching the clouds." 
 Once more there was a smile. 
 " Who told you to wait, Mr. Granby ?" 
 " You must call me Ealph, if you please." 
 " I shall do no such thing." 
 " Then how am I to call you Letty ?" 
 " I have told you I object to your calling 
 me Letty." 
 
 And Letty frowned. 
 
 " I hope you will relent, and be more — 
 shall I say considerate, or gracious ? Ee- 
 member how I have been suing to you for
 
 6 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 a whole month, meeting you every after- 
 noon, constantly waiting for you, thinking 
 of nothing else, and you still keep me at a 
 distance !" 
 
 This, indeed, seemed to be Letty's in- 
 tention ; for, as he spoke, she gathered up 
 her dress, and began to run. The pace is 
 not generally becoming to the softer sex, 
 but with her well-poised head, fragile form, 
 and lithe step, she made it a mirror of 
 grace. Ealph Granby followed her with 
 admiring eyes, and would have given chase, 
 only Letty was now met by her stepmother, 
 and Ealph thought it prudent to turn in 
 the other direction.
 
 CHAPTEE II. 
 
 TAKEN TO TASK. 
 
 The appearance of Mrs. Elvers stopped 
 Letty's running, and slie fell into a walk, 
 while her stepmother stood still, and waited 
 for her to come up. Mrs. Eivers was a, 
 matron of forty, the Cape which strains the 
 fairest woman, and which she had not 
 rounded without damage. This, however, 
 was only apparent, because she took no 
 pains to conceal it; for her face was still 
 handsome, and though the lines were grow- 
 ing rather masculine and the expression 
 stern, a touch of art would have masked all 
 defects. There was little love between her 
 and Letty. They had never, indeed, come 
 to a downright quarrel, for of the five years 
 of the stepmother's reign, Letty had passed
 
 8 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 four at school, and even if she had not been 
 precociously discreet, her visits home were 
 too brief for hostilities. But she had now 
 been twelve months under the paternal roof, 
 and found the yoke intolerable. Not that 
 Mrs. Eivers was ever overbearing ; she gave 
 no open ground for complaint, but she 
 visited Letty with those little oppressions 
 which it is easier to feel than to name. 
 Letty vowed a vow of submission on the 
 first day of the stepmotherate, and had ever 
 since put a constraint upon herself, but 
 though the habit became for a time a part 
 of her nature, this self-suppression was 
 growing every day more difficult. It is 
 true, the task was facilitated by one link 
 of sympathy with Mrs. Eivers. This was 
 Letty 's stepbrother, born to Mrs. Eivers 
 by her first marriage, and now seven years 
 old. 
 
 Between Letty and little Eobert, by the 
 family called Eobin, there sprang up a 
 strong attachment, which, according as 
 it excited maternal jealousy or maternal 
 pride, sometimes sharpened and sometimes
 
 TAKEN TO TASK. 9 
 
 moderated Mrs. Elvers 's rigour, but on 
 the other hand, they were divided by 
 conflicting views in religion. Letty's mo- 
 ther had belonged to the Church, and 
 brought her up in the same communion, 
 though Mr. Eivers himself was an Inde- 
 pendent. As Letty venerated her father, 
 she was naturally attached to his creed, 
 when at sixteen she came home from school. 
 But the crucible of her Church training 
 threw it into a mild form, which Con- 
 gregationalism is now, indeed, generall}^ 
 assuming. Unfortunately the second Mrs. 
 Eivers held the faith in its Cromwellian 
 purity, imposing on herself and all her 
 house a Decalogue of which the Ten Com- 
 mandments formed but an item. She had an 
 Index Expurgatorius of prohibitions, which 
 shut oiit every recreation, and in which the 
 seven cardinal sins were supplemented by a 
 catalogue of transgressions as long as Homer's 
 catalogue of ships. Dancing was as strictly 
 proscribed as murder, and an interdict as 
 stern was laid on concerts, plays, and novels. 
 Mrs. Eivers's routine, indeed, never travelled
 
 10 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 out of wliat she called " Scripture ;" her 
 lightest reading was a missionary report, 
 and her very newspaper was "Christian." 
 In short, she made religion colour every re- 
 lation of life, and would tolerate no varia- 
 tion of the hue. 
 
 Outwardly Letty conformed to this disci- 
 pline, but she recoiled from it in spirit, and 
 opportunity ever found her willing to trans- 
 gress. At school she clandestinely learnt 
 to dance, read the contraband books which 
 passed surreptitiously through the establish- 
 ment, and in learning music, leaped the 
 bound of spiritual songs. Girls generally 
 find school dull, but Letty looked back to it 
 with a sigh, and from amidst the monotony 
 of her home, regarded its even tenor almost 
 as riot. Nevertheless, this impression was 
 not in her mind when she came up to her 
 stepmother on the present occasion, 
 
 " So you have been meeting that young 
 man again?" said Mrs. Eivers, upbraid- 
 ingly. 
 
 Letty made no answer. 
 
 " You are going a course that will lead
 
 TAKEN TO TASK. 11 
 
 you to destruction," resumed Mrs. Elvers. 
 " Are you so blind as not to see that this 
 youth is a snare for you ? If you read your 
 Bible, you would know he is one of those 
 who lead captive silly women, and leave 
 them to tribulation and sorrow." 
 
 Still Letty spoke not. 
 
 " I was told of this scandal last night at 
 chapel, and wouldn't believe it," continued 
 the matron, " but now I have the evidence 
 of my own eyes." 
 
 *' May not your eyes have deceived you ?" 
 Letty now said, with a slight tendency to 
 sarcasm. 
 
 " You venture to say this, after what I 
 have just seen?" 
 
 " You saw me run away from him — that 
 is all." 
 
 " You were walking along by his side." 
 
 " He was walking by my side, as he has 
 done before. For the last month he has 
 met me every day, but no one can say that 
 I have met him. It isn't my fault that he 
 waylays me on the road." 
 
 "You must have given him encourage-
 
 12 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 ment. I daresay you are so vain as to be- 
 lieve he is in love with you — such love ! 
 And you think the Squire would let him 
 marry you, even if he was inclined himself? 
 * Proverbs' says that a foolish woman is 
 simple, and knoweth nothing, and you are 
 a proof of it. You are not going the way 
 to be married, and you will do yourself no 
 good, strolling about with the Squire's ne- 
 phew. I believe you may have his steward 
 if you act discreetly, but that doesn't seem 
 to be in your nature." 
 
 Letty turned a wistful look on the speaker, 
 but only to drop the long lashes over her 
 eyes. 
 
 "He is a favourite with your father," 
 pursued Mrs. Elvers, " and a devout Chris- 
 tian ; and they say he is to have the Beech 
 Farm at Michaelmas, so he would be a very 
 good match. Anyhow,"- — here her voice 
 softened — " have no further converse with 
 young Granby. I caution you in good 
 part. If it goes on, I must report it to 
 your father." 
 
 " I have no objection to your taking any
 
 TAKEN TO TASK. 13 
 
 step about it that you think right," an- 
 swered Letty, with a little defiance. 
 
 They had now come in sight of the farm- 
 house, standing in front of extensive barns 
 and a stored rick -yard, which, as well as the 
 size of the dwelling, indicated that the occu- 
 pier belonged to the higher class of farmers. 
 The house itself was weather-worn, but it 
 was rendered picturesque by the rose and 
 honeysuckle climbing up its front, and 
 which veiled its stone face with blossom. 
 It stood about a dozen yards back from the 
 road, and was reached by a sweep, which, 
 rounding the grass-plot, regained the road 
 by another gate. At this outlet stood Mr. 
 Eivers, talking to a person who claims in- 
 troduction at the same time with himself.
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 AN OFFER OF MARRIAGE. 
 
 Mr. Eivers's grey locks and greyer whiskers 
 enframed a countenance on which Time had 
 done its spiriting gently, though they marked 
 an epoch of some fifty years. He was rather 
 over the ordinary height, and of a frame 
 which suggested both strength and the habit 
 of using it. From his pleasant blue eye, 
 and the general expression of his face, one 
 would infer that his way in the world had 
 been smooth, but in reality he had seen 
 many trials, and his cheerful look was simply 
 the image of a genial spirit. The other 
 man was twenty years his junior, yet seemed 
 his elder in gravity and in acquaintance 
 with care. This, too, was a reflection from 
 within, life having given few rubs to Luke
 
 AN OFFEU OF MARRIAGE. 15 
 
 Bradley, and all his cares were of Ms own 
 creation. 
 
 Something of his brooding air might be 
 due to his creed ; for he belonged to a sect 
 with views bordering on fanaticism, but his 
 tendency to gloom was really innate, and it 
 was elective affinity that drew him to the 
 Plymouth Brethren. His religious tenets 
 did not warrant the attention bestowed on 
 his toilet, but they asserted their presence 
 there, in spite of his neat array and the 
 trimness of his beard and moustache, and 
 the effect was to give his appearance a blank- 
 ness which savoured more of a figure at 
 Madame Tussaud's than a living man. 
 Nevertheless, this still flesh and blood 
 covered a world of passions. 
 
 " You won't get a better offer for her, in 
 this by-country,'' he was saying. " Who is 
 there here, in her own station, except such 
 as are unsuitable in years, or have no sub- 
 stance ? Now I have my income as steward, 
 which I am to keep, and am just stepping 
 into the Beech farm ; and I won't press on 
 the marriage till I have the farm in hand, so
 
 16 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 that slie will at once be mistress of a house- 
 hold." 
 
 " Letty is very young for such a charge/' 
 replied Mr. Eivers, thoughtfully. 
 
 " Grive her in promise — only in promise, 
 and I will wait. I love her as Jacob loved 
 Eachel, and can wait seven years, if need 
 be. But there is no need." 
 
 " I don't know as to that. She would be 
 only twenty-four when the seven years were 
 up, and that was a year younger than her 
 mother married." 
 
 " It isn't what her age would be, but the 
 waiting. Think of it : seven years in a 
 man's life." 
 
 " You mentioned Jacob, and he thought 
 it not too long." 
 
 " But men lived three lives in one at that 
 time," said Luke Bradley, quickly. " Turn 
 to Genesis," and he drew forth a pocket- 
 bible, "here it is, in chapter forty-seven, 
 verse twenty-eight. * And the whole age 
 of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven 
 years.' When the years were so many, 
 what was it to wait the odd seven ? The
 
 AN OFFER OF MARRIAGE. 17 
 
 patriarch stayed as long for a flock of 
 sheep !" 
 
 "Yet lie pronounced his days few and 
 evil !" observed Mr. Eivers, pensively, and 
 A as if his mind wandered from the subject. 
 
 " Because he was without the saving 
 grace," returned Bradley, "for prophets and 
 holy men have been without what is given 
 freely to us. And the patriarch lived 
 among heathen, among idolaters, worshippers 
 of wood and stone, the work of men's 
 hands. Not but what we are amidst evil 
 too, and evil almost as great, while our days 
 are still fewer. Were it not good, then, to 
 place your daughter where her path will be 
 straight, and where she may grow up as one 
 of the polished corners of the temple, the 
 wife of a Grod-fearing man, and a crown to 
 yourself in your old years, as well as to her 
 husband ?" 
 
 " All that is out of our ruling. But I 
 am satisfied for her to be your wife, and 
 should be well pleased if you win her." 
 
 " I am thankful ; very, very thankful to 
 you, Mr. Eivers. Your words come to me 
 
 VOL. I. 2
 
 IS DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 like a blessing, and give me new heart. 
 Now I beseech you to say as much to Letty 
 herself." 
 
 " Nay, I can't do that. You must speak 
 in your own behalf, though you may say it 
 has my sanction. Here she comes, and you 
 can go in with us, and urge your suit at 
 once, if you will." 
 
 " Not now, not to-night. In truth, I 
 had rather you prepared the way for me ; 
 but since you think this unfitting, I will 
 come to-morrow, when she knows I am in- 
 vited to the sheep-shearing, and I will watch 
 for some moment to plead with her. I 
 shall now stop only to pay my respects to 
 her and Mrs. Eivers." 
 
 And he went forward to meet the two 
 ladies.
 
 CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 THE ARTIST. 
 
 Mr. Bivers was turning away from the 
 gate in the direction of the house, when, 
 hearing an approaching step on the road, he 
 glanced round, and met the gaze of a 
 passing pedestrian. Some eyes have a free- 
 masonry, which kindles friendliness at their 
 first meeting ; and this spirit so endued the 
 look exchanged by the two men, that they 
 both instantly stopped. 
 
 " Can you tell me how far it is to Berry 
 Pomeroy ?" asked the stranger. 
 
 While he spoke, Mr. Eivers scanned him 
 over. He was a handsome young fellow, 
 but with an impress of sadness on his 
 bright complexion, and, withal, looking 
 fagged. Something fantastic in the cut «f 
 
 2—2
 
 20 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 his billycock hat and tourist's dress com- 
 bined with the portable easel resting on his 
 shoulder, the knapsack on his back, and a 
 canvas bag at his side, to proclaim him an 
 artist. 
 
 " It is a good six miles, " replied Mr. 
 Eivers, " and it is three miles further to 
 Totness, the nearest place where you can get 
 abed." 
 
 "Then I have no time to lose," rejoined 
 the artist. " Grood evening." 
 
 '' You are rather beat for ten miles more," 
 returned Mr. Eivers, with his kindly smile. 
 " Let me offer you a night's lodging, and to- 
 morrow yon can start fresh." 
 
 The artist had often received such invita- 
 tions in his provincial and foreign rambles, 
 and he made no demur ; so another moment 
 saw him walking with Mr. Eivers up the 
 sweep to the house. Here they were joined 
 by little Eobert, who ran up to meet them, 
 and tried to clasp the farmer round the hips, 
 but. failed to reach so high. 
 
 " Ah ! my little Eobin," cried Mr. Eivers, 
 patting him on the back, "it is well I am
 
 THE ARTIST. 21 
 
 not under tlie vow of Jephthali, for you are 
 always the first to run out to welcome 
 me. 
 
 " What would you do if I was Jephthah's 
 daughter ?" demanded the boy, suddenly. 
 
 It was a habit with Eobin to ask every- 
 body what they would do under impossible 
 circumstances. 
 
 " I should be rather puzzled in such a 
 situation/' replied Mr. Eivers, merrily, 
 " but I think I should ask you to stay till 
 to-morrow, when the Pastor will be here.'* 
 
 " And I should beg to be allowed to take 
 your portrait," remarked the artist. 
 
 " Oh ! do that now !" exclaimed the boy, 
 delighted. 
 
 " Not now, but to-morrow, with pleasure," 
 said the visitor. 
 
 The boy jumped for joy. " Will it be 
 my photograph ?" he cried. 
 
 " As near it as I can draw," smiled the 
 artist. 
 
 "I am done with Letty in the photo- 
 graph, and here is Letty !" 
 
 The child bounded away to the girl and
 
 22 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 his mother, greeting Mrs. Eivers with 
 a shout, but throwing his arms round 
 Lettj. 
 
 They all met at the porch, and went into 
 the house together. Here the artist di- 
 vested himself of his equipment, and took 
 possession of a chair, which the farmer 
 placed for him ; and soon the whole party 
 sat down to tea. Mrs. Eivers was not so 
 hospitably inclined as her husband, and the 
 presence of a visitor clouded her for a mo- 
 ment, but she made a virtue of necessity, 
 and, propitiated by the boy's whisper of the 
 intended portrait, paid the guest every at- 
 tention. At first there was little conversa- 
 tion, but the tea promoted fellowship, and 
 by the time it was over, they were all in 
 communion. Then the boy ran out ; Mrs. 
 Eivers and Letty sat down to crochet, and 
 the farmer drew a chair into a recessed win- 
 dow, and invited the artist to some home- 
 brewed. 
 
 Both had seen other lands : the farmer 
 the far West, where he had gone to seek 
 gold, and returned poorer than he went;
 
 THE ARTIST. 23 
 
 and the artist the voluptuous South, where, 
 with toil hard as the farmer's, and as great 
 privation, he sought that richer treasure — 
 art. And he told the farmer how he had 
 trudged through the Tyrol to Venice, and 
 from Venice to Eome — the artists' Para- 
 dise, whence they fell to comparing the 
 Alps to the Eocky Mountains, which Mr. 
 Eivers had crossed on his way to Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 Letty and her step-mother listened, but 
 made no attempt to join the conversation, 
 though the girl lifted her fringed eyes to 
 the artist more than once. 
 
 " You will think our Devonshire tame 
 after Italy," remarked Mr. Eivers, as they 
 talked on, " but an artist may find some 
 subjects in it, and you couldn't have a 
 prettier one than the place you are bound 
 for, — Berry Pomeroy." 
 
 "I have heard as much," answered the 
 artist, " and that is one of the reasons why 
 I am going there. At least, I persuade 
 myself it is, though I believe I should have 
 made my way there some day, if it had no
 
 24 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 sucli attraction. The truth is, all this 
 Devonshire country is holy ground to 
 me. 
 
 " You have been here before, then ?" 
 
 " No, but it is the land of my ancestors. 
 My great-grandfather was the last of my 
 family who lived here, but my mother was 
 full of traditions about it, and instilled them 
 into me." 
 
 "If the family was an old standard, I 
 should know the name." 
 
 " My name is Clayton — Harry Clayton ; 
 but we are an off-shoot of the Grranbys, and 
 this is the name that is most likely to be 
 known here." 
 
 Mr. Eivers and his wife looked at each 
 other, and Letty again turned her eyes on 
 the artist. 
 
 " The Grranbys once owned Berry Pome- 
 roy, and held broad lands in this part," 
 continued Harry Clayton. 
 
 "They still hold lands here," observed 
 the farmer. 
 
 "What, do any of them remain? I 
 thought the race was extinct."
 
 THE AUTIST. 25 
 
 "Well, the present stock are not real 
 Grranbys," said Mr. Rivers, slowly. 
 
 "We don't know anything about it," 
 observed his wife, suddenly striking into 
 the conversation. " Mr. Granby is our 
 landlord, and we must be careful what we 
 say of him," 
 
 " Landlord or not, we will say no ill of 
 him," rejoined Mr. Eivers ; "nor will we 
 meddle with his affairs, but it is no slander 
 to mention his name." 
 
 " And what is his name, if it isn t Grran- 
 by ?" said Harry Clayton. 
 
 "It was formerly Byrne," replied Mr. 
 Eivers, disregarding the telegraphic look of 
 his wife. " He took the name of Granby 
 about seven years ago, when the last of the 
 old stock died, and it was then that he first 
 came to this part." 
 
 " I wonder you keep on with the subject," 
 cried his wife, perceiving that this state- 
 ment produced an impression on their visi- 
 tor. "It isn't like you to be talking of 
 your neighbours, and I don't know that I 
 ever heard you speak of the Squire before."
 
 26 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " Because I never before came across one 
 of tlie race ; but now the subject has turned 
 up, I feel as if my tongue were loosed. 
 JSTo, I have nothing to tell against him, 
 but these Grranbys have always been a thing 
 in my mind, and it is a pleasure to talk of 
 them to one who claims affinity with the 
 name." 
 
 " I could talk of them all night," said 
 Harry Clayton. " But tell me, did the last 
 real Grranby, do you know, leave a will ?" 
 
 " I can't say from my own knowledge," 
 answered Mr. Eivers, "but the report is, 
 that he did not. Indeed, there are people 
 at Chesney who say they remember the ad- 
 vertisement in the newspapers for the next 
 of kin." 
 
 "And was it the advertisements that 
 brought forward a claimant ?'' 
 
 " That is what I have been told." 
 
 Here the conversation was interrupted by 
 the return of the boy ; and, Mrs. Rivers, 
 anxious to prevent further talk about the 
 Grranbys, announced that it was time for 
 him to go to bed.
 
 THE ARTIST. 27 
 
 Harry Clayton took the hint, and bid- 
 ding the family good-night, was installed 
 by Mr. Eivers in a comfortable bed-room, to 
 betake himself to repose.
 
 CHAPTEE V. 
 
 THE PORTRAIT. 
 
 Though excited by what lie heard of the 
 Granbys, and convinced that Mr. Byrne 
 Granby possessed no better claim to their 
 estate than himself, Harry Clayton no 
 sooner laid his head on his pillow than his 
 eyes closed, and they opened not again till 
 morning. 
 
 At a farm-house a summer morning is 
 brighter than morning or summer elsewhere. 
 Harry threw open the casement, and the 
 air brought in the scent of honeysuckle, 
 while the view of country, and the cheerful 
 notes of birds, thrilled him with renewed 
 life. But he did not linger at the window. 
 Remembering his engagement about the 
 boy's portrait, he hastened his toilet, deter-
 
 THE POETEAIT. 29 
 
 mined to execute the task before breakfast, 
 and depart as soon afterwards as lie could. 
 
 Robin was, together with Letty and Mrs. 
 Eivers, awaiting his appearance in the par- 
 lour, and made no objection to an immediate 
 sitting. But the breakfast was already laid. 
 They were joined by Mr. Eivers, who came 
 in from the farm-yard, and the portrait was 
 deferred till after the meal. 
 
 " Can't you manage to stay the day 
 with us?" said Mr. Eivers as they sat 
 down. " If you will, 111 drive you over to 
 Berry Pomeroy to-morrow. We are having 
 a little festival to-day, — our sheep-shearing ; 
 and shall be very glad of your company." 
 
 " Your invitation is too kind to be refused, 
 even without the attraction of the sheep- 
 shearing," smiled Harry ; " but that makes 
 it irresistible. A sheep-shearing is a thing 
 to see. It is one of our old English revel- 
 ries, and was caught up by Shakespeare." 
 
 " Who was Shakespeare ?" cried Eobin. 
 
 " He was a man who wrote plays, to lure 
 souls to destruction," replied Mrs. Eivers. 
 
 " That is a hard report," remarked her
 
 30 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 husband. "That lie didn't make the best 
 use of his gifts, is very probable ; but we 
 may hope that he had no evil intent." 
 
 " We can only measure him by his deeds," 
 rejoined Mrs. Elvers. " We are to report of 
 a man by what he does, not what he leaves 
 undone. By their fruits ye shall know 
 them ; and what are these but the works of 
 our life ? Life is not to be given to vani- 
 ties ; we are to take it as a serious trust, of 
 which we are to render an account." 
 
 " That is what we are told," cried the 
 
 artist : — 
 
 " * The time of life is short ; 
 To spend that shortness basely were too long, 
 If life did ride upon a dial's point, 
 Still ending at the arrival of an hour.' " 
 
 " Noble words," cried Mrs. Eivers. 
 
 " They are Shakespeare's," said Harry. 
 
 Mr. Eivers looked at his wife, and Letty 
 again raised her eyes to the artist. 
 
 " It is easy to speak smooth, and we know 
 it is one of the devices of the wicked," re- 
 marked Mrs. Eivers, slightly colouring, but 
 otherwise unruffled.
 
 THE PORTKAIT. 31 
 
 No one was moved to reply to tliis ob- 
 servation, and the breakfast finisbed in si- 
 lence. Then Mr. Eivers went to look after 
 bis men, wbile Harry Clayton produced bis 
 knapsack, and drawing fortb paper and 
 crayon, invited Eobin to take bis sit- 
 ting. 
 
 "Ain't I to be done with Letty, sir? 
 like I am in tbe pbotograpb ?" asked tbe 
 boy. 
 
 " Yon will be done by yourself, tbis time," 
 said Mrs. Eivers, sbarply. 
 
 Tbe boy submitted, wbile Letty appeared 
 to take no note of tbe speecb ; and, pre- 
 sently, sbe and Mrs. Eivers went about 
 tbeir daily routine. Tbe portrait was nearly 
 completed when Letty returned. 
 
 " It is very like bim," sbe remarked, 
 looking from tbe picture to tbe boy. 
 
 " Now you sit down and be done," cried 
 Eobin. 
 
 " Why sbould you wish me to be taken, 
 wben it is too late to put me in with you ?" 
 rejoined Letty, laying ber band on bis bead. 
 '' We can't be always together, you know,
 
 32 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 and you must begin to think of a time when 
 we shall part." 
 
 " Yes," answered the boy, " mamma says 
 you will marry and go away." 
 
 " And don't jou consider that a very 
 reasonable proceeding?" said Harry, bend- 
 ing over him, with an arch look at Letty. 
 Her eye met his, and she saw his face light 
 up, but did not perceive the effect was pro- 
 duced by her own. 
 
 ** The going away is the sad part," he 
 observed. " A bride goes out of the door, 
 and not only leaves behind her home, but her 
 family. Do you think this flashes on her 
 all at once, and that it is only at that 
 last moment she realises the step she is 
 taking ?" 
 
 " Possibly," answered Letty, with a 
 slight blush at touching such delicate 
 ground. 
 
 "I don't say this enters much into my 
 view," pursued Harry. " I look at the event 
 as an artist, and see it pictoriall}^ in two 
 aspects, as marriage a-la-mode, and love in a 
 cottage, flying out of the window."
 
 THE PORTRAIT. 33 
 
 " Why should it fly out of the window ?" 
 said Letty. 
 
 " Because in a cottage poverty is sure to 
 come in at the door." 
 
 " I can't believe love and poverty are so 
 irreconcilable/' returned Letty. " They may 
 live under the same roof, and do. Sad would 
 it be, were it otherwise ; for I know cottages 
 where poverty is never absent, and I can 
 testify that love is never absent, neither." 
 
 " Then the proverb goes for nothing." 
 
 " That is generally the fate of proverbs," 
 said Letty. 
 
 " Not of the book of Proverbs," suggested 
 Eobin. 
 
 ** Well put in, Solomon the Little," ob- 
 served the artist, " only the Scriptures are 
 always excepted, remember." And he added 
 to Letty : " If Love holds his own against 
 poverty, I defy him to do it against riches, 
 which brings us to marriage a-la-mode, the 
 other side of the medal." 
 
 " With which we had better not meddle 
 at all," said Letty. 
 
 " It is quite out of our way, you think ?" 
 
 VOL. I. 3
 
 34 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " I only answer for myself," smiled Letty. 
 
 " And that answers all I can say, so here 
 ends the homily. And this touch finishes 
 the portrait just to time." 
 
 He laid down his crayon, and perceived 
 Mr. Eivers, who entered the room as he 
 spoke. 
 
 " Very well done T exclaimed the farmer, 
 surveying the picture : " our little Socrates 
 in his wisest look. But we will now get 
 out in the air, for you have all been too long 
 indoors." 
 
 " And I want to have a peep at the 
 sheepshearing," said Harry. 
 
 The two men got their hats, and sallied 
 forth, followed by the boy and Letty, and 
 all were presently wandering over a field to- 
 wards the shearers.
 
 CHAPTEE VI. 
 
 THE SHEEPSHEARERS. 
 
 Classic poets describe an age when pastoral 
 avocations were followed by kings, who, 
 without compromising their dignity, both 
 guided the plough and gathered flocks, and 
 though lapse of time has weakened the asso- 
 ciation, farming retains the impress of this 
 ancestry. It still gives a pursuit to princes, 
 bringing highest and lowest together, and it 
 preserves some of the usages of the earliest 
 epochs. These usages, indeed, may not 
 long survive in the practical future we are 
 approaching, and even now are but rudely 
 celebrated. But though the king's son no 
 longer gathers his kin to a sheepshearing as 
 Absalom did his royal brothers, sheepshear- 
 ing is still the occasion of a feast. The 
 
 3—2
 
 36 BOWK IN DEVON. 
 
 shearers, men practised in the art, go from 
 farm to farm to do their office, and are every- 
 where welcomed. Those hired by Mr. 
 Eivers were known through the district, and, 
 indeed, half over the country. Their leader 
 went by the name of Jack Eeeve, and, though 
 one of the labouring class, was descended 
 from an ancient lord of the soil, and pro- 
 fessed a genealogy that would throw that of 
 the Howards into the shade. These waifs 
 of ancient nobility are often found among 
 the peasantry of Devon. The last of the 
 family of the Wigers, great in Doomsday 
 Book, is an inmate of a Devonshire work- 
 house ; and a pauper named Brewer is the 
 lineal representative of Lord William de 
 Bruhaire, whose daughter, Alice, brought to 
 the Mohuns the lands of Tor Abbey, on her 
 marriage with Sir Eoger de Mohun, in the 
 reign of Henry the Second. 
 
 Popular opinion still vested Jack Eeeve 
 with the right to twenty-five acres at Cock- 
 ington, and his claim had even been taken 
 up by an Exeter solicitor, who declared 
 he should be a yeoman before Christmas.
 
 THE SHEEPSHEAEERS. 37 
 
 Meanwhile, lie toiled contentedly for nine 
 shillings a week. 
 
 Jack showed his Saxon origin in his ap- 
 pearance, which might t^^pify a shireman of 
 old. He stood among his fellows like 
 Xerxes among his courtiers, higher by a 
 head, and his bulk corresponded with his 
 stature, giving him a giant's breadth of 
 chest. Blue eyes, and flaxen hair allowed 
 to grow wild, and a complexion ruddy with 
 life, and scorched by air and sun, equally 
 proclaimed his ancestry ; and presented such 
 a type of manhood as can only be found in t 
 the depths of England or among the navvies I 
 on an English railway. 1 
 
 Jack and his three mates were seated on 
 the turf of a meadow, close to a stream, 
 which, swollen by rains, ran almost level 
 with the field. They had each got a sheep 
 on its back on the ground, and were chip- ! 
 ping ofi" the fleece, which they had previously 
 washed in the brook. The scene charmed 
 Harry Clayton, as he came up, and, with an 
 artist's eye, caught all the points: the rough 
 shearers, the sheep, the streak of bright
 
 38 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 water, tlie overhanging woods, and the 
 meadow in its emerald coat embroidered 
 with the silver and gold of daisy and butter- 
 cup. But his observance was the force of 
 habit, and lasted only a moment, when his 
 mind turned to other thoughts, now the 
 thoughts and dreams of his life. Still, he 
 acknowledged the nod, friendly but not 
 familiar, which Jack Eeeve, looking up 
 from his task as they arrived, gave them all 
 in succession. 
 
 " You have a fine day for it. Jack," ob- 
 served Mr. Elvers. 
 
 " If you've noticed, master, I always do," 
 replied Jack, "and very natural, for I al- 
 ways put off till a fine day comes." 
 
 This logic seemed overpowering to the 
 shearer nearest him — by name, Tom Balders 
 — and he signified his admiration by a sound 
 resembling the caw of a ^rook, but which 
 was intended as a laugh. 
 
 " You see, master," resumed Jack, " it's 
 need to be pretty hot, and to have all the 
 sun out, because it's a change for the poor 
 animals, just like us leaving ofi" our waist-
 
 THE SHEEPSHEAREIiS. 39 
 
 coat, or a gentlemaii liis great coat. So 
 you have to hit the right time. A dog will 
 look out for himself, and sheds his own coat, 
 so does a horse partly, and a cat. Why 
 doesn't a sheep ?" 
 
 "That's a puzzler," remarked Balders, 
 triumphantly glancing up at the company. 
 
 "Youll find it's from nature," pursued 
 Jack. " Nature is so cute that it takes in 
 everything, and knowing the wool's wanted, 
 leaves us to cut it for ourselves, the same as 
 we cut the corn, or oats, or grass. And this 
 is a very good regulation, for if a sheep shed 
 his own coat, same way as a dog or a horse, 
 the wool would drop all about, and do no- 
 body good ; now we take it all in a lump. 
 And another good thing, this keeps up 
 shearers." 
 
 Here there was not only an applauding 
 " caw" from Balders, but a chuckle from the 
 other two rustics, whose stolidity had previ- 
 ously seemed impervious. The visitors 
 joined in the laugh, and Mr. Eivers chatted 
 on with Jack, learning from him something 
 of the flocks in neighbouring sheep walks.
 
 40 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 Letty looked round, and found that Harry 
 had strolled away by himself. He had just 
 gained the summit of a rise, from which he 
 caught a distant glimpse of the Hall, the 
 abode of his ancestors; and the sight in- 
 flamed the thoughts which had been flitting 
 through his mind since the previous even- 
 ing. That dwelling and these lands, fur- 
 ther than he could see, still belonged to his 
 race, and were at least as rightfully his as 
 Byrne Grranby's. He and the Byrnes were 
 descended from twin sisters, and one family 
 could advance no better title to the estate 
 than the other. But Byrne Granby was in 
 possession, and how was he to be deprived 
 of this advantage, which gave him nine 
 points of the law ? Harry thought the mat- 
 ter over and over ; but it was one on which 
 he was too excited to think with his usual 
 deliberation. He saw that the law afforded 
 no process of redress, but a long and expen- 
 sive suit, which might end in his defeat, 
 since Mr. Grranby, with an equal claim of 
 lineage, could plead that his right had been 
 hitherto undisputed, and now bore a seven
 
 THE SHEEPSHEAEERS. 41 
 
 years title. But tlie equality of their claims 
 would be restored if Harry contrived to 
 bring tbe weight of possession on his own 
 side, and a short way to this object was to 
 enter the house, and eject Mr. Granby by 
 force. The more he thought of this project, 
 the more rational did it seem, and, at last, 
 he brought himself to believe that the only 
 obstacle to success was the difficulty of en- 
 listing abettors. 
 
 All at once he thought of the sheep- 
 shearers. Was it not possible to obtain the 
 co-operation of Jack Eeeve ? Jack would 
 be a host in himself, and could no doubt 
 secure the aid of his mates. Instantly 
 Harry resolved to take an opportunity of 
 sounding him on the business. But it 
 seemed expedient that he should first know 
 the character of the Hall, and something of 
 its situation, and he struck across the fields 
 to obtain this insight. The path led him to 
 a wood, where he lost sight of the house, 
 and was puzzled by new turnings, opening 
 in different directions. At last, he made his 
 way to the highroad, and found that the
 
 42 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 wood was tlie skirt of a small park, sur- 
 rounding the mansion, and flanked by an 
 antique lodge. The gateway, indeed, per- 
 tained to a family domain of greater extent 
 than now belonged to the Granbys, and was 
 as much a memorial of their decay as their 
 greatness. Built in old Norman fashion, 
 with walls of rock, and pointed arch, and 
 castellated top, and with the Granby dragon 
 scutcheoned on its front, it turned its back 
 on the mansion of red brick, erected in the 
 reign of Queen Anne, when the Granbys 
 had become mere gentry, and led one to 
 look round for a residence akin to itself. 
 Such a structure rose to the mind's eye of 
 the artist, as he gazed into vacancy, and he 
 was carried back to the days of chivalry and 
 the presence of knights and dames. In 
 imagination he saw the ancient keep, and 
 battlement, and rampart, of which there re- 
 mained not a stone, and following the for- 
 tunes of his race through the big wars of 
 the Eoses and the Commonwealth, he felt 
 drawn to the old gateway as to a lost home. 
 But this association was dispelled by
 
 THE SHEEPSHEAEERS. 43 
 
 the old portress, to whom he applied for 
 leave to look round the park, and who in- 
 formed him that her orders strictly excluded 
 strangers. The word grated on his ear. 
 Stranger he was in himself, but here was 
 the cradle of his race, and to be thus saluted 
 when it had called up his deepest feelings, 
 and when he seemed to be realising the 
 dream of years, chilled the blood in his 
 veins. He turned away bent more than 
 ever on his purpose of wrestling for the 
 possession.
 
 CHAPTEE VII. 
 
 RALPH IS TAKEN INTO CONFIDENCE. 
 
 Late in the day, Luke Bradley, the 
 steward, was coming through the old gate 
 from the park, when he encountered Ealph 
 Grranby. 
 
 *' Where are you off to, Bradley ?" said 
 the young squire, stopping, " not far, I 
 hope, for I want you to go with me to- 
 morrow, to have a look at the birds in the 
 Upheld cover ? but you seemed rigged out 
 for Exeter, at least." 
 
 " No," replied Bradley, " only for Orchard 
 Earm. Mr. Eivers gives his sheepshearing 
 feast to-night, and I am going to it." 
 
 " I wish you would take me with you," 
 cried Ealph, eagerly, " I was never at a 
 sheepshearing, and should enjoy it ex-
 
 RALPH IS TAKEN INTO CONFIDENCE. 45 
 
 tremely ; I daresay Elvers would make me 
 welcome." 
 
 " I am sure of that," rejoined Bradley in 
 a musing tone, " and no doubt it would 
 please the mistress too, and maybe it would 
 do good for me. To tell you the truth, 
 though this is a merry-making, I am going 
 to it on a serious business. You Ve heard 
 of my notion of taking a wife ?" 
 
 Ealph Granby slightly paused before he 
 replied. 
 
 " I hear it now," he said, " and it isn't a 
 bad notion, as you are setting up for a farm, . 
 where a lady is both useful and orna- 
 mental." 
 
 "Perhaps you will think this lady too 
 ornamental," returned Bradley ; " but I have 
 known you from a boy, and we have always 
 been friends, so I believe you won't laugh 
 at me if I don't get her." 
 
 " I should rather sympathise with you. 
 But is there any doubt of your success ?" 
 
 " She is very young, you see, and she 
 mayn't perceive the advantages of the match, 
 and may think of doing better. I can't say
 
 46 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 she has ever shown a liking for me — any 
 more than just being friendly; and Mr. 
 Eivers " 
 
 " Is it Letty — I mean Miss Eivers ? " 
 cried Ralph, interrupting him, and with dif- 
 ficulty repressing a start. 
 
 " Well, it is Letty," answered Bradley, 
 deliberately. " What do you think of my 
 chance ?" 
 
 "Of that I can form no opinion till I 
 have seen you together, but you must have 
 some idea yourself. You have surely felt 
 your way a little ?" 
 
 " Not exactly. I have thought to do it, 
 once or twice, but just at the moment she 
 has seemed to come on so cold, and I have 
 shrunk back. You see. Master Ealph, I 
 love her too much. If she denies me to- 
 night, I believe I shall go mad." 
 
 Here the steward took off his hat and 
 wiped his brow, bedewed by the fever of his 
 mind. 
 
 " You mustn't take it so seriously," ob- 
 served Ealph, with some agitation. " Ee- 
 member there are plenty of girls in the
 
 RALPH IS TAKEN INTO CONFIDENCE. 47 
 
 world, and as good fish in the sea, as ever 
 came out of it." 
 
 " Not for me," answered Bradley. " But 
 as you think of going to the shearing, you 
 might say a word to her for me, and plead in 
 my behalf what I couldn't urge for myself." 
 
 This proposal was not so agreeable to 
 Ealph. 
 
 " In love, no one can plead for another,'' 
 he said: "it is everybody for himself. I 
 mean," he added, hastily, " your cause will 
 be best in your own hands, and tbe utmost 
 I could promise is to try and learn how she 
 is disposed towards you, before you speak 
 for yourself." 
 
 " I will ask no more," said the steward. 
 
 " Well, we will send up to the house to 
 say I shall not be in to dinner, and I can 
 go on with you at once."
 
 CHAPTEE VIIL 
 
 THE shearers' FEAST. 
 
 Ralph and Bradley were the last guests to 
 arrive at the farm, where, introduced to 
 the drawing-room, they found, in addition 
 to the family, Mr. Wingfield, the Pastor, 
 Harry Clayton, and Letty's particular friend, 
 Alice Mead, the daughter of the Chesney 
 apothecary. The Pastor was a plain, quiet 
 man, bronzed by the suns of lands in which 
 he had toiled as missionary, and though he 
 was something short of thirty, was so aged 
 by habits of study, as to have the look of 
 the decade beyond. After attaining his 
 degree at Cambridge, and taking holy orders, 
 he had, on conscientious scruples, left the 
 Church to join the Congregationalists ; and 
 possessing a comfortable patrimony, was
 
 THE shearers' FEAST. 49 
 
 content with a Pastorate of the humblest 
 rank. Here, indeed, he found a compen- 
 sating attraction in one of his congregation, 
 the apothecary's daughter, who, now seated 
 at his side in the blitheness of twenty sum- 
 mers, seemed rather to tolerate than accept 
 his attentions. 
 
 The appearance of Ealph Grranby a little 
 discomposed Mrs. Eivers, and she met him 
 rather coldly, but he received a kind greet- 
 ing from her husband, who regarded the 
 visit as an overture of friendship from his 
 landlord's nephew. Letty met him with a 
 simple bow, and then veiled her elation by 
 dropping her eyes. But her demeanour did 
 not lull the suspicions of her stepmother. 
 
 " Were you aware he was coming ?" she 
 said to Letty. 
 
 " You know I was not," answered Letty, 
 resentfully. 
 
 " I won't allow you to speak in that way 
 to me,'' rejoined her stepmother, startled 
 by this sign of revolt. "You think you 
 may give yourself airs, because you are 
 danced after by this young man, but I fear 
 
 VOL. I. 4
 
 50 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 you will rue the day you suffered him to 
 speak to you." 
 
 " How am I to prevent his speaking to 
 me?" 
 
 " I don't say it is in your power to-night, 
 when he is here, under your father's roof, 
 and must be treated as a guest. And, in 
 truth, this may prove an advantage, if it 
 enables you to discover from his behaviour 
 you are not to be lady at the Hall." 
 
 Letty only replied to this taunt by one of 
 her serene glances, and was turning away, 
 when she was stopped by Eobin. 
 
 " "Why is Mr. Clayton so like Mr. 
 Ealph ?" asked the boy, in a tone that 
 turned all eyes on the two young men. 
 
 The resemblance struck every one, and 
 none more than Harry and Ealph them- 
 selves. 
 
 " This child is very observant," remarked 
 the Pastor, " and the likeness between our 
 two friends is very remarkable, if they are 
 no kin." 
 
 *' There is often kin where we don't sus- 
 pect," said Mr. Eivers, suppressing his
 
 THE shearers' FEAST. 51 
 
 knowledge of Harry's descent from tlie old 
 Grranbys. 
 
 "Anyhow, there is none in this case," 
 cried Ealph Granby, haughtily. 
 
 " I have claimed none," said Harry. 
 
 " Claim it or not, we are all kin, if we 
 would recognise the tie," cried the Pastor ; 
 "but when this is overlooked, the closest 
 relationship is nothing. We are one family, 
 as we are of one nature, which makes it the 
 first of duties to promote fellowship. And 
 fellowship comes from such a gathering as 
 this, when we are to make merry togetlier> 
 and also with humbler men, and to share 
 the bounty of our common Father." 
 
 " Fellowship of a sort, but not the bond," 
 remarked Luke Bradley. " This will come 
 only in the latter days, when all things shall 
 be in common, as under the Apostles, and 
 as they are held among some Christians in 
 the present time." 
 
 "There may be some who preach such 
 doctrines, but it i s never practised except in 
 a small way," observed Mr. Elvers ; " nor is 
 it suitable to our artificial way of life." 
 
 4—2 

 
 52 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " Bradley will find that out when he starts 
 on his own account/' said Ealph Granby, 
 with a landlord air. " When he has sunk 
 capital in farming, he will have an oppor- 
 tunity of establishing his principles by going 
 snacks with his labourers, and we may then 
 learn to believe in him." 
 
 " He might do worse than try his prin- 
 ciples, and we than believe in them," said 
 Harry Clayton ; " for certainly the day is 
 approaching when the labourer will claim 
 a larger share in the farm than he has now. 
 He is discovering that labour is as much 
 capital as money is, and that what these do 
 together is a joint investment, which should 
 be equally divided, not all seized by one." 
 
 He spoke in a tone that made his words 
 sound like a challenge to Ealph Grranby ; 
 but the young Squire not only forbore to 
 reply, but showed no sign of having heard 
 tlie speech, or, indeed, of remembering 
 Harry's presence. The slight brought a 
 little flush to the artist's cheek, but was un- 
 noted by the company, their attention being 
 diverted at the moment by the announcement
 
 THE shearers' FEAST. 53 
 
 of supper. This was set out in the kitchen, 
 which, lar^e and roomy, spoke of daj^s when 
 master and servant sat at the same board, 
 and the well-spread table now seemed to 
 bring back that epoch. 
 
 In accordance with old custom, the com- 
 pany were marshalled in by the host and 
 hostess, and Letty took that opportunity to 
 slip away with Eobin to put him to bed, 
 using such dispatch, however, as to be 
 scarcely missed. The shearers had come in, 
 and stood behind Jack Eeeve, who, filling 
 up the doorway, alone seemed unabashed by 
 the entrance of his superiors. Jack had 
 washed his hands and face, and combed up 
 his flaxen locks, but showed little change in 
 his apparel. More pains had been bestowed 
 on the toilet of his mates, who had all 
 polished their complexions, and scrupulously 
 dragged their hair over their foreheads. 
 Moreover, Balders appeared in his best suit 
 of corduroy, and the other two v/ore clean 
 smockfrocks. 
 
 " I am glad to see you, my lads," said 
 Mr. Eivers, "and hope you will make a 
 good supper, and enjoy yourselves."
 
 54 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " It will be our own fault if we don't 
 master, with such a plenty of good eating," 
 replied Jack Eeeve. " I expect I shall drink 
 a rare lot of cider." 
 
 This answer prompted one or two of the 
 company to laugh ; whereupon its wit struck 
 Jack's mates, and they burst into a roar, but 
 without getting into better spirits, the pre- 
 sence of superiors being too great a damper. 
 Moreover, the poor fellows had now to range 
 themselves at table, which, breaking their 
 mutual support, subjected them to a strain 
 which it required all the savoury odours of 
 the board to render endurable. 
 
 Grace from the Pastor inaugurated the 
 feast, loosing havoc on every dish at once, 
 sausages and fat bacon, ham, fowls, roast 
 beef, and pies, some steaming hot and some 
 cold, but so tricked out w^ith green as to 
 look equally tempting. Jack Eeeve turned 
 up his cuffs, and went in for regular work, 
 and his mates took such courage from his 
 example, and from the good things them- 
 selves, that they were soon as busy» Nor 
 did the superior guests lack appetite. They
 
 THE SHEAEERS' EEAST. 55 
 
 made less clatter, but claimed almost as 
 much service from the three attendants — • 
 housemaid, dairymaid, and cook — who were 
 kept running round the table to satisfy their 
 demands. But, at last, the eating came to an 
 end, and the table was cleared of the remnants. 
 
 " You have read A Winter's Tale, I sup- 
 pose?" said Harry Clayton to Lett}^ who 
 sat between him and Ralph. 
 
 " Parts of it," answered Letty. 
 
 " Ah, I remember Shakespeare isn't in- 
 cluded in your Vedas. But that doesn't sig- 
 nify. You have rushed in where angels fear 
 to tread." 
 
 " Whom do you call the angels ?" asked 
 Letty maliciously. 
 
 " Why, the people who are too good to 
 read Shakespeare," answered Harry. He 
 added hastily — " Not that I mean to reflect 
 on anyone here." 
 
 " I don't intend to tell of you, if you did." 
 
 " And you may rely on my being equally 
 discreet about your reading," rejoined Harry. 
 " Indeed any secret you confide to me, I 
 shall hold inviolable."
 
 56 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " If you claim to be so good, I shall be 
 disposed to set you down among the angels." 
 
 " You may safely do that, if it depends 
 on my goodness." 
 
 "Eeally?" 
 
 " Eeally and truly, as I hope you will 
 never doubt ?" 
 
 " Well, I have only your word for it, so I 
 must take your goodness on trust." 
 
 *' Ah ! trust is woman's strength — and 
 her weakness. But I never find fault with 
 her, and for reason good — she never leaves 
 room for fault-finding." 
 
 " You look me in the face and say that," 
 laughed Letty. 
 
 " It is when I look you in the face I say 
 it most confidently." 
 
 The face showed no displeasure at this 
 assertion, but, on the contrary, seemed to 
 receive it kindly, an effect noted impatiently 
 by Ealph Grranby. And if Letty's counte- 
 nance of the artist excited pique in Ealph, 
 it provoked Bradley's jealousy, while it was 
 regarded by Mrs. Eivers as a defiance. 
 
 Wholly unconscious of these results.
 
 THE SHEAKERS' PEAST. 57 
 
 Lett}'' readily turned to Ealpb, when he 
 sought to disengage her from Harry. 
 
 " I have been trying to obtain a kind 
 glance all the evening," he said to her, 
 " and you seem determined to send me to 
 Coventry, as you did yesterday." 
 
 " Nay, Mr. Grranby, I only declined to go 
 through Coventry with you," replied Letty 
 gaily, — " or, say, Chesney," 
 
 " I didn't wish to go so far." 
 
 " I thought you went too far, as it was," 
 returned Letty, with an air of dignity. 
 
 Ealph slightly coloured. 
 
 " I have come further to-night, yet I hope 
 I haven't offended you," he said. 
 
 *'Not by coming here, certainly," an- 
 swered Letty, more amicably. 
 
 " And here I have a great advantage — 
 you can't run away." 
 
 " But I may loalk away," said Letty, with 
 a bright glance, and half turning. 
 
 " If 3^ou were cruel or I were presuming. 
 But I can vouch for myself, I shall presume 
 only to ask leave to pay homage." 
 
 " That will leave me the liberty to an-
 
 58 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 swer you/' said Lettj, exacting the homage 
 on the instant. 
 
 "And how will 3^ou answer?" said Ealph. 
 
 Letty looked dow^n, as if to show her long 
 eyelashes, and then cast a dancing glance 
 at the ceiling. 
 
 " Ah ! you have so many ways of answer- 
 ing," pursued the admiring Ealph. " The 
 difficulty is to know what they mean." 
 
 " Suppose they have no meaning ! "When 
 we are amusing ourselves, we don't weigh 
 everything we do, nor expect it to be taken 
 seriously. I daresay it is a different thing 
 when people are in earnest." 
 
 " And it is impossible to be earnest here, 
 with so many eyes upon one," said Ealph, 
 " so I shall wait till I meet you on the road 
 to-morrow." 
 
 " You won't meet me on the road to- 
 morrow." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " Because, among other reasons, I am go- 
 ing to Berry Pomeroy." 
 
 " Then, I shall meet you at Berry Pome- 
 roy," rejoined Ealph, jovially — "that is,"
 
 THE shearers' FEAST. 59 
 
 lie added, as Letty knit her brows (her frown 
 being very pretty), "if I have your per- 
 mission." 
 
 He could not be sure that she caught the 
 words ; for she here turned away, and was 
 instantly accosted by Harr3^ 
 
 One finds it hard to imagine — what we 
 may daily see — the almost child in years, and 
 novice in the uses of society, all at once be- 
 come mistress of a hundred pretty coquetries, 
 and exercising the power of her beauty, with- 
 out seeming to know she is beautiful. From 
 her demeanour, Letty might even be thought 
 to possess a subtle apprehension of differences 
 of character, though in reality she was only 
 alert in perceiving little traits on the surface, 
 and committing herself to their keeping. 
 Her course was a sort of flotation, a move- 
 ment with the current, and her aims were 
 not only unpremeditated, but rose as she 
 proceeded, and might even change with every 
 step. But she knew that she was now in a 
 critical position — that her stepmother feared 
 her growing influence over her father, so was 
 bent on getting her out of the house, and
 
 60 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 souglit to precipitate an explanation with 
 Ealph, not to draw him into a proposal, but 
 to clear the way for Bradley. And Letty 
 resolved to frustrate both these designs. 
 Her woman instincts rose in a spirit of an- 
 tagonism, which for the moment overruled 
 her better nature. Ralph had yet made 
 little impression on her affections, and she 
 never thought of the opening he afforded 
 for forming a good match, but her step- 
 mother's declaration that Ralph was beyond 
 her reach led her to conceive a different 
 opinion herself — perhaps to think of his 
 personal merits more favourably. She could 
 act in such a way that from what appeared 
 of her proceedings she would seem to Mrs. 
 Eivers rather to discourage Ealph, w^hile 
 she really lured him on ; for this power over 
 him was apparent to her directly she en- 
 tered into conversation with Harry Clayton. 
 But she was not one to understand the uses 
 of such an influence, still less to deliberately 
 make them serve her own designs, and as 
 she talked on, she found an attraction in 
 Harry's conversation which almost brought
 
 THE shearers' FEAST. 61 
 
 her to forget both Ealph and her position. 
 And she began to excite a kindred interest 
 in Harry. He had before thought her very 
 pretty, and now saw she would hereafter 
 be still prettier ; he had taken her for a 
 rustic, and found her a Grace, and, lastly, he 
 felt an irresistible charm in her manner, her 
 flow of sentiment, and her animation. 
 Meanwhile, the attention he received from 
 Letty, though it had no significance, threw 
 Bradley in a fever. 
 
 " You know I want your Letty for a 
 wife," he said to Mrs. Eivers, at whose side 
 he was sitting, " I have often thought to 
 open my mind to her, but whenever I decide 
 to speak, there has always seemed to be some 
 bar." 
 
 " Isn't the bar in your own backward- 
 ness ?" replied Mrs. Eivers, "it is good to 
 be humble-minded, but this is a matter in 
 which a man should remember he is the 
 head, and be bold." 
 
 " Still, there are times and seasons, and 
 a soft answer may be won at one time 
 better than another. Now I observe to-
 
 62 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 niglat Letty is much taken with the stranger 
 there, and I can't say but he is a comely 
 man, and doubtless able to discourse of the 
 world's vanities, which I am not; more- 
 over, these are light things, and you 
 know, we must be serious to talk of mar- 
 riage." 
 
 " I am glad you view it in such a spirit, 
 and I hope Letty will do the same ; I have 
 sought to bring her up in the right way. 
 It was a great charge, but, I trust, I have 
 done my duty by her, and that she will now 
 try to do her own." 
 
 " Is she of years to understand her duty ?" 
 rejoined Bradley dubiously. " She hasn't 
 come to the age when she is so esteemed in 
 law. The law still deems you, and her 
 father, her guardians, and holds her subject 
 to you. And is she not still more bound to 
 this by religion ? Surely there is no limit 
 to the command to honour thy father and 
 mother !" 
 
 " None whatever !" 
 
 " And have I your good will, as well as 
 her father's ?"
 
 THE SHEAKEES' FEAST. 63 
 
 " Undoubtedly ; I wish her no better 
 portion." 
 
 " You speak with kindness, and I hope a 
 day may come when I shall give you thanks 
 for her, as I now do for myself. And you 
 judge well, though I say it, that marriage 
 with me would be a good portion for her ; 
 for what could she do better than mate with 
 a Christian man, having enough of the 
 world's goods to keep her in comfort, and 
 who would lead her clear of the world's pit- 
 falls ?" 
 
 "That were better than all," said Mrs. 
 Kivers. 
 
 " And were it not a good deed to bring 
 her to this condition, to urge her to choose 
 it-r-nay, if need be, to command her ? Mr. 
 Elvers has grieved me to the soul by hang- 
 ing back here. But you see the mark un- 
 clouded, and now I believe you will take up 
 this work, and having it in hand will not 
 look back, but go on till you have come 
 to an end. That would make me happy 
 and Letty too ; it would put us in the way 
 to look to our souls, and your reward would
 
 64 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 be great botli in the world and the king- 
 dom." 
 
 " My reward will be to see you her hus- 
 band. But you must persevere ; you must 
 take every advantage, mind that ! And if 
 you keep on, we shall succeed in the end." 
 
 Her words and tone dispirited Bradley, 
 confirming his apprehension of obstacles, 
 and his gloomy face became gloomier. But 
 his answer was prompt. 
 
 " I will never give her up," he said 
 through his teeth, *' not if she refuses me a 
 hundred times — not if she binds herself to 
 marry another man. I love her like mad ; 
 and I feel this couldn't be — that I couldn't 
 love her like this, if she wasn't marked out 
 for my wife. Nor shall all the powers of 
 the world, and the powers of darkness, 
 snatch her from me." 
 
 His energy startled Mrs. Eivers, and she 
 changed colour, but she was not the less 
 glad to be assured that he would persist, for 
 she felt so certain that under present circum- 
 stances, he would be refused, that she had 
 been disposed to suggest delay. But she
 
 THE SHEAEERS FEAST. 65 
 
 now left him to act on his own judgment, 
 believing that rejection would only heighten 
 his passion, and stimulate renewed pursuit. 
 
 Letty had no wish to treat him unkindly, 
 and she seized a favourable moment to show 
 him a little attention, turning, on her father 
 calling for music, to speak to him apart, as 
 she was led by Harry to the pianoforte. 
 This had been brought into the kitchen 
 from the drawing-room for the purposes of 
 the festival, and now became the centre of 
 attraction. 
 
 Letty at once began her song, and the 
 waviness of movement, which characterised 
 her form, now showed itself in her voice \ 
 for her cadences, as they rose and fell, 
 seemed to undulate the feeling pourtrayed 
 in her face, and expressed in the words : — 
 
 Not by the spell of worldly joys 
 
 Life me to earth could bind, 
 Por still a bitter thought alloys 
 
 The pleasure most refined : 
 But, oh ! there is what never palls 
 
 Through pleasure or through pain — 
 This hems me round more fast than walls, , 
 
 This holds me like a chain. 
 VOL. I. 5
 
 66 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 Nor chain, nor wall, but freehold deed 
 
 To all beneath the sun, 
 That ne'er is marketed for greed, 
 
 Nor can with gold be won, 
 This thing — 't is love — is sold and bought ; 
 
 But by its own device, 
 And then 't is by itself 't is sought, 
 
 Itself the only price ! 
 
 The piece elicited a buzz of applause, and 
 Jack Eeeve, rising with the occasion, sued 
 for an encore, a request which received the 
 unanimous support of the company. Letty 
 readily complied, and the song not only lost 
 nothing on repetition, but won even louder 
 approval, particularly from the shearers. 
 
 " You like that little melody, John ?" ob- 
 served the Pastor. 
 
 " Yes, minister," answered Jack, " there's 
 a good deal in it, you see, and it goes home 
 to a poor man. It's true in a sort, and yet 
 it isn't true, if you can make that out." 
 
 " I can't make it out," said Alice, from 
 the other side of the Pastor, at the same 
 time smiling at Jack. 
 
 "Well, love is a thing as can't be bought 
 with money," replied Jack, a little dazed
 
 THE shearers' FEAST. 67 
 
 by the smile ; " that's right enough, Missy ; 
 but money makes it go smoother, you see, 
 that's one thing ! And another is, love 
 doesn't always buy itself back, as the song 
 says it does." 
 
 Alice had no reply to this statement, ex- 
 cept that she slightly blushed. 
 
 " You go into a poor man's cottage," pur- 
 sued Jack, " I expect you've been in one 
 afore now, minister, and I know you have. 
 Miss Alley !" 
 
 Both Alice and Mr. Wiogfield assented. 
 
 " Well, you know there's somethin' o' love 
 there, or it couldn't go on," pursued Jack, 
 while his mates lent all their ears. " You'll 
 hear a good deal o' jawin', and sometimes 
 worse : there isn't much to eat, but you'll 
 see somebody always goes shortest to give 
 the others more ; sometimes it's the man, 
 sometimes it's the woman, sometimes the 
 biggest girl. But whomsoever it be, I 
 notice they ain't a bit more loved for it. 
 Just the other way ; for all the rest 'ull put 
 upon 'em, and take the bit out o' their 
 mouth, and anybody that's sick 'ull work
 
 68 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 'em to death, keepin' 'em going here and 
 going there for nothing. So, you see love 
 doesn't always buy itself back." 
 
 " But it repays itself," said the Pastor, 
 " the gratification of selfishness is confined 
 to the present, which no sooner comes than 
 it is gone ; but the gratification of love is in 
 memories, and so it is rewarded by its own 
 sacrifices." 
 
 " I wish we'd all take that in," observed 
 Jack, looking at his mates, who seemed a 
 little conscience-struck at his glance. "I 
 mean," Jack continued, sweeping his eye 
 round the company in general, " the well-to- 
 do, just the same as labourin' men." 
 
 "It is applicable to all alike," said the 
 Pastor. "We are all of the same nature, 
 bound by the same ties, actuated by the 
 same feelings, and equally accountable for our 
 actions." 
 
 " But we don't all live on nine shillings a 
 week, master," observed Jack, slily. 
 
 This thrust drew a " caw " of delight 
 from Balders, but the subject was too 
 serious for jest to his brother shearers, who 
 were fathers of families, and their faces
 
 THE SHEAHEHS' FEAST. 69 
 
 visibly lengthened. At this moment, Letty 
 undesignedly effected a diversion, by carry- 
 ing away Alice, and seating lier at the 
 pianoforte, where, in a low but mellifluous 
 voice, she sang this song : — 
 
 Why so loud and sweet 
 
 Sings the lark on high, 
 Seeming but to greet 
 
 The unheeding sky ; 
 G-ushing forth his trill, 
 
 All the space around, 
 "Where the ether still 
 
 Drops it to the ground ? 
 
 Sweet and loud on high 
 
 Sings he in the air, 
 Por — above — the sky 
 
 Flings no shadow there 5 
 And his gladsome flow 
 
 Not to space is giv'n. 
 For the earth below 
 
 Echoes it to Heav'n ! 
 
 The song received due appreciation, but 
 Jack did not repeat his solicitation of an 
 encore, having an instinct that this would be 
 out of order, and Alice was glad to hasten 
 to her seat.
 
 70 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " You've made out to me the same thing 
 as minister, Missy," Jack then said, "and 
 I expect Parson says the very ditto — only 
 I'm so tired Sundays ; I drop asleep when 
 he's preachin', more shame to me for it !" 
 Here Mr. Wingfield gave a look up, making 
 Jack smile. "What you've struck on me 
 is this : that the poor loving soul who gives 
 to everybody, and gets nothing back, doesn't 
 waste its love, after all, but it's like the 
 lark's song : it goes up there.'' And Jack 
 raised his finger. 
 
 So much festivity was very distasteful to 
 Luke Bradley, who expected the feast would 
 bear a religious character, or, at least, admit 
 no music but hymns. Yet he felt the charm 
 of Letty's song, or rather of her voice ; for 
 the words he neither heard nor heeded. 
 
 " I didn't know you could sing in this 
 fashion," he said to her, " with this sweet- 
 ness and power. Such a voice is a richer 
 instrument than a harp; its melody is like a 
 soul ; it lives — and we answer to its emo- 
 tion." 
 
 "You speak too kindly," replied Letty
 
 THE SHEAREES' FEAST. 71 
 
 whom his sensibility took by surprise — and 
 touched too. 
 
 " Can I ever speak too kind to you ?" he 
 rejoined, emboldened by her words. 
 
 Letty felt rebuked by his tenderness. 
 This man of stone, as he had seemed to her, 
 was proving as susceptible to emotion as 
 herself, and the blood left her cheek, as she 
 reflected that she gave the impulse. How 
 was she to extinguish the hopes he plainly 
 entertained ? 
 
 "Neither to me nor anyone else, I trust," 
 she answered in as composed accents as she 
 could assume. " Kindness is due to all, and 
 we have only to be careful not to build more 
 on it than it should be asked to bear." 
 
 And before he could reply, she glided 
 round the room to Alice. 
 
 " We are going to Berry-Pomeroy to- 
 morrow," she said to Alice, " papa is to 
 drive Mr. Clayton there in the waggonette, 
 and he has promised to take Eobin and me. 
 I wish you would go, too, and between us 
 we can take better care of Eobin." 
 
 " I should so like it," answered Alice.
 
 72 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " I haven't been to Berry-Pomeroy since I 
 was a child, and then it was with you ; only 
 you were such a little thing, you won't 
 remember it now." 
 
 " I remember — I remember," returned 
 Letty. " Wasn't it when you were in your 
 ninetieth year ?" 
 
 "Ninth, you quiz." 
 
 " And I was a baby of six !" 
 
 "And very tall for your age," laughed 
 Alice. " You came up to my shoulder, and 
 I thought you would grow up a giantess." 
 
 " And I am only an inch taller than you, 
 after all." 
 
 " Not an inch, I am sure." 
 
 "A full inch," averred Letty, standing 
 up. 
 
 " I am not going to measure now, when 
 you have your high heels on," rejoined 
 Alice, smiling, but with a little pout. 
 
 " My heels are as thin as yours, and you 
 need only stand up by me, and Mr. Wing- 
 field shall judge." 
 
 But the office was not to the Pastor's taste. 
 
 "Judge the exactness of an inch!" he
 
 THE shearers' eeast. 73 
 
 exclaimed ; " impossible — unless you gave 
 me a pair of compasses and a scale." 
 
 " I tell you what it is, Alice," said Letty, 
 archly, "Mr. Wingfield thinks there isn't 
 an inch to choose between us." 
 
 " No, no," said the pastor, confusedly, 
 making both the girls laugh. 
 
 " I do believe you think Alley the tallest," 
 retorted Letty, " and would give the verdict 
 against me, if we were to measure, so I 
 won't put myself in your power." 
 
 Nothing of this conversation reached 
 Jack, owing to his having been drawn 
 apart by Harry, who, thinking he might 
 not have such another opportunity, was now 
 opening to him his project of forcibly 
 seizing the Hall. The shearer was deeply 
 interested in his story. Himself dispos- 
 sessed of his ancestral lands, and preserv- 
 ing this tradition, without fully realising its 
 import, he recognised an affinity between 
 himself and Harry, and at once decided that 
 Harry had right on his side. Imbued with 
 the universal conviction of the rural poor, 
 that the law, instead of holding an even
 
 74 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 balance, is made only for the ricli, lie also 
 retained in his breast the feudal spirit, 
 which prefers the law of our own hands. 
 But, with all this prepossession, he was too 
 alert not to see difficulties in the way. 
 
 " It would be a tough bit o' work," he 
 said. " The young Squire there is as much 
 as you could manage, and there'd be only 
 me and my mates for all the rest — and 
 there'd be a pack o' women screaming about 
 all the time. But I expect it could be got 
 through, if we'd the pluck for it." 
 
 " I can answer for your pluck, and 
 wherever you go you will find me at your 
 side," replied Harry. 
 
 '' Well, I'll think it over, master," said 
 Jack. " You can't do a thing clever, if you 
 don't first work it in your head ; and this 
 requires a good deal of workin'. I've to 
 consider about my mates, too, as well as 
 myself, and I don't want to lead them into 
 a scrape. I can speak for Balders and Jem 
 Stone ; they'll do as I do, but Jem has a 
 long family, thirteen of 'em. I believe you 
 wouldn't have us all run our heads against
 
 THE shearers' FEAST. 75 
 
 a wall ; and, you see, we shall be going 
 blindfold, depending on your having just 
 rights." 
 
 " My right is beyond dispute," replied 
 Harry. " Of that, be confident. But how 
 shall I learn your decision ?" 
 
 " You take the lodging I told you of, at 
 the cross road ; you won't get any better 
 short of Totnesa, and I'll step over there 
 before you've done with Berry Pomeroy." 
 
 " Don't wait for that, but come as soon as 
 you can. And, remember, I rely upon you." 
 
 This conference was not unobserved by 
 Ealph Grranby, though he entertained no 
 suspicion that he was one whom it con- 
 cerned. He only noted it from following 
 the movements of Harry, whom he now 
 regarded as a new suitor for Letty ; and he 
 was too much consumed by jealousy to 
 think of anything else. It humbled him to 
 think that Letty wavered between this 
 stranger and himself, for he saw that she 
 did not weigh his social position, which 
 made itself felt even among dames of degree ; 
 and he began to perceive, not only that he
 
 76 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 was of less consequence than lie had ima- 
 gined, but that his addiction to field sports 
 and athletics had imparted a roughness to 
 his manners, which put him at a disadvan- 
 tage in the competition. It seemed to him 
 doubtful whether this vagrant artist was not 
 the greater Adonis, for Letty moved about 
 the room, speaking here to one, and there 
 to another, without turning a look towards 
 himself. A strange satire it was on human 
 festivity that she could thus be dispensing 
 smiles, while he and Bradley stood by, set 
 in flames by the sight. The thought re- 
 minded Ealph of his promise to sound her 
 about the steward's suit, and he reflected 
 that he could now make this an avenue of 
 approach, as well as a means of ascertaining 
 Letty' s disposition. 
 
 "You are making Bradley quite miser- 
 able," he said, gliding up to her, " and he 
 came here as happy as a king — for Mm, 
 You know, he doesn't go in for fun." 
 
 " Never," answered Letty. " I wish he 
 would be a little more cheerful, or, at any 
 rate, less gloomy."
 
 THE shearers' eeast. 77 
 
 " You are interested in him ?" 
 
 " Certainly. He is a friend, and I have 
 become used to his strange views, so that 
 they don't repel me as they might others." 
 
 Ealph hesitated a moment. 
 
 " I may also call him a friend," he then 
 said, " and if it wouldn't be going back into 
 the presuming vein, I would request per- 
 mission to ask you a question about him — 
 not, believe me, from idle curiosity." 
 
 " You may ask the question, but I can't 
 bind myself to give it an answer." 
 
 " Not even an answer without a mean- 
 ing ?" smiled Ealph, alluding, with a little 
 malice, to her remark in their former con- 
 versation. 
 
 Letty made no reply, beyond a grave look. 
 
 " I see you consider it isn't a subject for 
 jesting," resumed Ealph, "and that gives 
 the reply without my pressing you with the 
 question. It also releases me from a diffli 
 cult position." 
 
 This assertion might have raised a diffi- 
 culty for Letty, only that happily Mrs. 
 Eivers created at the moment a general stir
 
 78 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 by sending round the loving cup — a large 
 silver tankard, filled with old cider. At the 
 same time, her husband demanded a song 
 from Jack Reeve, who promptly burst forth, 
 and brought out his mates in the chorus. 
 The ditty afforded great fun, and won the 
 shearers a round of applause. 
 
 A little conversation followed, during 
 which Letty found herself again by Mr. 
 Wingfield. 
 
 " I think it is now time to break up, 
 Letty," said the Pastor, after a while, " but, 
 perhaps, you will like first to sing the Even- 
 ing Hymn. We have feasted and made 
 merry, and have had our innocent songs of 
 festivity, and we shouldn't forget the song 
 of thankfulness. Is it to your mind, Mr. 
 Eivers," he added, aloud, " that before we 
 part, we should join our voices in the Even- 
 ing Hymn ?" 
 
 "It had been more godly to have done 
 it before," cried Luke Bradley. " He that 
 is merry, let him sing psalms — a wise direc- 
 tion ; for psalms we all sing together, thereby 
 promoting unity, and if we be not all of one
 
 THE SHEA^HERS' FEAST. 79 
 
 spirit, it is because we have not remeipbered 
 this." 
 
 " But I hope we are of one spirit/' said 
 Mr. Eivers, cheerily ; " and I think the 
 Pastor has chosen the right moment to show 
 it ; for now we shall part with thanksgiving 
 on our lips, whereas a psalm before might 
 have seemed unseasonable, not every one 
 having your fervour for spiritual things, 
 Luke Bradley. Nevertheless, you set us a 
 good example." He turned to his daughter. 
 " Letty, you play the tune, and Mr. Wing- 
 field will give out the words." 
 
 The hymn was sung, and was followed by 
 the departure of the guests, with the excep- 
 tion of Harry Clayton and Alice, who, in 
 accordance with previous arrangement, were 
 to remain for the night.
 
 CHAPTEE XL 
 
 BERRY POMEROY CASTLE. 
 
 Luke Bradley thouglit to walk liome with 
 Ealpli Granby, but went out of tbe house 
 with the Pastor, and they stopped to talk at 
 the gate. Meanwhile, Ealph struck into a 
 footpath, and made for the Hall across the 
 fields, less to shorten the distance than to 
 shake off the steward, with whom, in his 
 present mood, he wished to avoid explana- 
 tion. Bradley, after a delay of a couple of 
 minutes, hastened to overtake him, but 
 keeping to the road, of course was not suc- 
 cessful. 
 
 Ealph felt as little satisfied with the 
 evening as the steward. As his excitement 
 subsided, and was succeeded by reflection, 
 he began to be alarmed at the position he
 
 BERRY POMEROY CASTLE. 81 
 
 bad assumed towards Letty. He com- 
 menced his chase of her in idleness, and 
 solely to amuse himself, and now found that 
 her attractions held him enchained. This 
 was the more vexatious, as Letty showed no 
 sense of her conquest. He was captivated, 
 but she was not, and indeed seemed indif- 
 ferent to the impression she had made upon 
 him. She treated his attentions as a mere 
 performance, and though he originally meant 
 nothing more, he was galled that she did 
 not receive them as serious. He knew that 
 such advances from the heir to an estate 
 would have flattered girls in his own 
 station ; yet she, the daughter of one of his 
 uncle's tenants, met them in this way ! 
 Hence he had been led to-night into 
 speaking more earnestly to her than he 
 intended, and now he reflected that such 
 another impulse might carry him beyond 
 retreat. Her sway over him was becoming 
 dangerous, yet he could not make up his 
 mind to keep out of its reach, and a resolu- 
 tion that each meeting should be the last 
 still ended in his seeking one more. 
 
 VOL. I. 6
 
 82 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 The next day found him determined to 
 exert all his powers to please, and early in 
 the afternoon he mounted his horse, and 
 cantered off to Berry Pomeroy. Letty had 
 intimated that they would arrive there about 
 three o'clock, and his start was so timed as 
 to bring him to the ruin just after that hour. 
 As he rode along he congratulated himself 
 on having eluded Bradley. He was averse 
 to deception, but considered he was not 
 bound to make a confidant of the steward, 
 because the steward made one of him, al- 
 though, while feeling himself at liberty to 
 try to captivate Letty, the point still caused 
 him uneasiness. Our strange code of honour 
 is sensitive about probity to strong men, 
 but allows more latitude in dealings with 
 woman. 
 
 Ealph was a little damped further on, 
 when, passing a cross road, he saw Bradley 
 spurring up. There could be no doubt as 
 to where he was going, so Ealph made a 
 virtue of necessity, and waited his approach. 
 
 " We didn't get to Upfield cover this 
 morning," Ealph cried, remembering their
 
 BEHRT POMEROY CASTLE. 83 
 
 engagement of the previous evening. " I 
 rather thought you would have come up to 
 the Hall for me." 
 
 " I must ask your pardon about that/' re- 
 plied the steward ; " but I recollected I 
 was bound to go to the Beech farm, which 
 I intended to tell you last night if you had 
 stopped for me." 
 
 "I never thought of stopping when I 
 found you were staying behind." 
 
 "Ay, Mr. Wingfield kept me a minute, 
 and I made sure of catching you up," replied 
 the steward. He added, ^' What did Letty 
 say when you spoke about me ? — for I saw 
 you talking to her, and you kept your word, 
 I am sure." 
 
 "Well, I don't know how far you will 
 think so, for I found it a more difficult 
 task than I expected," returned Ealph, 
 colouring. 
 
 " It required management, no doubt." 
 
 " And I am certain to blunder," said 
 Ealph, " so you had better not be guided by 
 me in the business." 
 
 6—2
 
 84 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " I don't say I shall. But let me hear 
 her own words." 
 
 " Her sentiments were not expressed in 
 words. I gathered them from her manner, 
 and if I must tell you, they gave me a bad 
 impression for your suit." 
 
 " Yet she spoke to me friendly, more so 
 than I looked for. Yes, and I think I am 
 in greater favour than you judge. And 
 why shouldn't I be, when her father and 
 mother are both for me ?" 
 
 " And do you think they will seek to in- 
 fluence her?" 
 
 " Surely. In fact, Mrs. Eivers has told 
 me not to take refusal ; and, besides, I be- 
 lieve there is grace at woi'k for me in Letty 
 herself, and that she will be guided in her 
 answer, seeing it were better for her to have 
 a millstone tied about her neck, and be cast 
 into the sea, than she should be coupled 
 with that painter." 
 
 " Do you think she showed a liking for 
 him ?" said Ealph, his face flushing. 
 
 "Well, he is one to take with trusting 
 youth, being showy to the eye, and full of
 
 BERRY POMEROY CASTLE. 85 
 
 worldly wit. And I fear he has become 
 more to her than we know. Mr. Elvers is 
 also won by him, so is the Pastor, and this 
 afternoon they are all at Berry Pomeroy 
 together." 
 
 '•' Berry Pomeroy," echoed Palph, affecting 
 surprise. " Why, we are close there." 
 
 " It is there I am going. I mustn't leave 
 this prowler to snatch up my ewe lamb, 
 when I can see his design." 
 
 " Talking of prowlers, I wonder if there 
 are any foxes at Berry Pomeroy. As I am 
 so near, I may as well go and have a search.'* 
 
 "And I will look after the wolf," said 
 Bradley, with a grim air. 
 
 They simultaneously quickened their pace, 
 and presently sighted the old lodge of the 
 domain, with the rustic gate, which, swing- 
 ing back with a touch, admitted them to the 
 once proud inheritance of the Pomeroys. 
 
 A beautiful spot it is, and worthy of its 
 pedigree, so intertwined with romance and 
 tinged with history. The approach winds 
 through wood to a wide dell, where, dividing 
 in two, one sweep runs along the ridge to
 
 86 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 the castle, while the other traverses the 
 hollow to a mill. All round, beech and 
 elm and oak mingle their varied foliage 
 with ash and fir; young trees grow be- 
 tween ; and green banks edge the way with 
 every variety of wild flower. The two 
 horsemen kept the higher road, whence they 
 could scan the whole hollow, a lovely depth 
 of wood, with the white mill on its bound, 
 seen every now and then through vistas. 
 As they went on the hollow deepened, and 
 for half a mile the ridge descended in the 
 same ratio, when a sudden sweep opened the 
 castle, so mantled with ivy as to be undis- 
 tinguishable from the surrounding trees. 
 But another moment lifted this veil of 
 nature, and showed the formal lines, which 
 mark the hand of art. 
 
 The road, winding round, terminated in a 
 plot of turf before the ancient gateway, the 
 olA|st part of the castle, though the least 
 toucn^^^by ruin ; for the rock walls were 
 erect as ever. On the open space stood Mr. 
 Eivers's waggonette, freed from the horse, 
 which was cropping the grass to the length
 
 BERRY POMEROT CASTLE. 87 
 
 of his tether. Ealph and Bradley tied up 
 their own nags, and then passed into the 
 castle in search of the visitors. 
 
 Broken and battered, black with age, and 
 pervaded by solemn stillness, this Norman 
 portion of the stronghold was like a huge 
 grave, the sepulchre of its epoch. But sud- 
 denly they caught the sound of voices, and 
 an opening in the wall admitted them to the 
 more modern fabric, even more a ruin than 
 the other. The gulf between — a court but 
 a span wide — represented five centuries, and 
 divided the reign of the Conqueror from 
 that of the protector Somerset. The later 
 erection owed its existence to this great 
 builder, and like everything he built, like 
 Somerset House, and our Protestant monar- 
 chy and religion, it was left unfinished. 
 Where the work paused could not be dis- 
 cerned by the untaught eye, though anyone 
 could see where it began. Not that the 
 two sections of the ruin lacked affinity ; for 
 if one was like a grave, the other stood up 
 like a skeleton, with the gaunt bones of the 
 Tudor windows staring through its shroud
 
 88 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 of ivy, and equally imaging a dead 
 age. 
 
 Ealpli and Bradley crossed the court, and 
 passed through the roofless pile to the 
 dining-hall, where they found their friends, 
 Mr. Eivers standing with Harry and little 
 Eobin, and Letty, and Alice loitering about 
 with the Pastor. The new comers were well 
 received, though there was no cordiality be- 
 tween them and Harry, and Letty gave a 
 little start at sight of Bradley. 
 
 " You are admiring the beautiful view," 
 Ealph said to Letty, "those old knights 
 knew where to build their nests, both for 
 safety and pleasure, and the Pomeroys 
 showed themselves good judges here." 
 
 " The view was none of their making," 
 observed Bradley, " and they never thought 
 of Him who did make it, and to whom they 
 must give fearful account for their misdeeds. 
 And on this very spot judgment overtook 
 them ; for here their house was made a de- 
 solation, and its chiefs perished by their own 
 deed." 
 
 "It was a signal event," observed the
 
 BERRY POMEROY CASTLE. 89 
 
 Pastor, " but we may remember the tower 
 of Siloam, and speak of those who have come 
 under condemnation as not the greatest of 
 offenders. These Pomeroys were men of 
 violence no doubt, but they hved when vio- 
 lence reigned, and when Christians were but 
 as heathen men, without the Bible, and led 
 by sill}^ monks and priests. Yet there was 
 virtue in those days, notwithstanding, and 
 a reserved remnant ; yes, and a leaven too, 
 and though it took a shape we now think 
 fantastic, it kept alive also gentleness and 
 charity." 
 
 " That was undoubtedly the effect in spite 
 of blemishes," remarked Mr. Eivers, " and 
 viewed in this light the age of chivalry may 
 be taken as having done a good work." 
 
 Alice lingered behind with Letty. 
 
 " What was it happened to make this spot 
 so memorable ?" she asked. 
 
 *' I forget the story," answered Letty, 
 " Mr. Granby can tell it to us, I daresay," 
 she added as Ralph fell into their company. 
 
 " You must first come through the arch 
 of the large window," replied Ealph, and
 
 90 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 they walked on with him. " Now," he re- 
 sumed as they reached the place, "look 
 down." 
 
 The rock descended like a wall, to a depth 
 which showed tall trees under their feet, and 
 Alice shrank back, though without loosing 
 her hold of Letty. 
 
 " The castle was besieged by Coeur de 
 Lion," continued Ealph, " but though the 
 provisions were exhausted. Sir Aylmer Pome- 
 roy and his brother Robert refused to sur- 
 render, and at the last moment, they ban- 
 daged the eyes of their horses, sprang into 
 the saddle, and, clothed in their suits of 
 mail, spurred over this precipice. There 
 they fell in a heap, and the king rode into 
 the castle past their dead bodies." 
 
 "What a shocking story!" exclaimed 
 Alice ; " come away, Letty, or I shall catch 
 the infection for jumping over." 
 
 Without waiting the effect of this appeal, 
 she hurried after the other members of the 
 party, and left Letty to follow. 
 
 " You are not so easily frightened as your 
 friend," remarked Ralph, as Letty remained
 
 BERRY POMERO¥ CASTLE. 91 
 
 on the brink. But as lie spoke, he thought 
 he saw tears in her eyes. 
 
 It was true ! The precipice at Letty's 
 feet suggested to her that the path of her 
 life was also verging on a precipice ; and, 
 while the goodness of her nature struggled 
 with its more worldly feelings, she found 
 herself in such a tangle with her stepmother 
 and Bradley and Ealph as seemed to leave 
 her no control over her steps. 
 
 The situation was very trying to Ealph's 
 prudence. Tresses soft as silk and bright 
 as sunshine, eyes gleaming through diamond 
 tears, and cheeks presenting the softest 
 bloom, were, indeed, able to hold their own 
 against the stubbornest resolution — and 
 Ealph's resolutions did not possess this 
 quality. 
 
 "What is the matter, Letty?" he said 
 earnestly. 
 
 Letty thought to pass without reply, but 
 he placed himself in the way. 
 
 " You mustn't go without telling me," he 
 said, " though I guess what it is troubles 
 you. I wished to speak of it last night,
 
 92 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 but feared to offend you. Let me speak 
 
 now." 
 
 " Impossible," answered Letty. " Pray 
 allow me to go on, Mr. Granby." 
 
 " I also will say impossible. Don't frown 
 at me, Letty — ah ! that I might say, dear 
 Letty." 
 
 '' I really can't permit you to talk to me 
 in this way." And Letty turned in the 
 other direction. 
 
 " Stay one moment, I entreat," cried 
 Ealph. " You are in distress, even in dan- 
 ger ; for you know there is a scheme on foot 
 to marry you to Luke Bradley. And I 
 know it too — know it from Bradley's own 
 lips." 
 
 Letty whirled raund with a resentful air. 
 
 " That doesn't give you the right to men- 
 tion it to me," she said with dignity. 
 
 " I confess I may seem presumptuous," 
 returned Ealph, daunted, " but it is because 
 I see the peril ; and because your manner 
 last night showed me that you could only 
 be brought to such a marriage through un- 
 due influences. And these, Bradley tells me, 
 will be exerted."
 
 BERRY POMEROT CASTLE. 93 
 
 Letty's colour changed a little. 
 
 " Not by my father,'* she answered. '* I 
 say this simply to vindicate him, and not to 
 enter on the subject with you, which I again 
 refuse to do." 
 
 But her words were more emphatic than 
 her looks, which, no longer resentful, wore 
 an expression of dove-like gentleness, de- 
 molishing Ealph's last entrenchment. 
 
 " You won't refuse to hear me plead for 
 myself," he said passionately, " to tell you 
 how you are in my thoughts night and day, 
 and how your marriage with Bradley, or any- 
 one else, would craze and kill me. Don't 
 turn upon me such a look of doubt, for what 
 I have said I am ready to swear." He took 
 her hand, and though she half drew it back, 
 she allowed it to remain as his fingers clasped 
 it round. " I love you, dear Letty — with 
 my whole heart I love you !" 
 
 " Not with your whole heart !" said Letty 
 in faltering tones. 
 
 " That is my vow," he answered, with a 
 gaze of adoring fondness. 
 
 " And is it with your whole mind — with
 
 94 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 full thougM of my position and your own^ 
 and the obstacles between us," said Letty, 
 with the same emotion. 
 
 " I throw all such considerations to the 
 winds !" exclaimed Ealph. 
 
 " But I must not — I must set them before 
 you," urged Letty, calming her excitement, 
 *' and I entreat you to weigh them all." 
 
 " They can't weigh with me a feather. 
 It is you, you I want, dear Letty. With- 
 out you, nothing can be of value to 
 me ; and with you, I can bear whatever 
 comes. True, it will be necessary to be 
 secret for a time, but, be assured, all diffi- 
 culties will disappear in the end." 
 
 His arm slid round her waist ; he drew 
 her nearer ; and pressed her lips. Then she 
 gently pushed him away. 
 
 " I must leave you," she said, her cheek 
 wearing its prettiest blush, " or secrecy will 
 become impossible." 
 
 Ealph knew the conclusion was wise. He 
 caught her in his arms, and clasped her to 
 his breast, and the next moment he was out 
 of sight.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 ON THE PRECIPICE. 
 
 The conversation on tlie ages of chivalry so 
 excited Bradley, that for a time he did not 
 observe there had been a secession from the 
 party, and it was not till his fervour began to 
 cool that he noted the absence of Ealph and 
 Letty. Instantly his suspicious nature took 
 alarm. Before, his jealousy was so concen- 
 tralfed on Harry that he overlooked the pos- 
 sibility of rivalry in Ralph. Ralph had 
 been known to him all his life, and possessed 
 as much of his friendship as he could give, 
 considering that Ralph went to church in- 
 stead of chapel, and never quoted Scripture. 
 But Bradley felt no trust in the unconverted, 
 and he reflected that Ralph was young, that 
 Letty was but too charming, and that frail
 
 96 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 youth, void of saving grace, was better out 
 of the way of temptation ; so he fell behind 
 the company to go in quest of the absentees. 
 
 Letty still stood where she had been left 
 by Ralph, and seemed still to hear his voice, 
 pledging her to be his wife. The remem- 
 brance came pleasant, but the pleasure was 
 not exuberant, nor was it untinged by re- 
 gret. Her air even showed a touch of 
 dejection, and she looked over the precipice 
 without noting the expanse in her front, for 
 she scanned as wide a range in her mind. 
 Thus Bradley reached her side before she 
 became aware of his presence. 
 
 " You are by yourself, then ?" he said, 
 relieved of uneasiness about Ealph. " These 
 places may be made a profit in this way ; for 
 we then feel their testimony, which idle 
 company keeps out of sight. Such company 
 left you no rest last night, Letty. It was 
 all trifling, singing, jesting, all but wanton- 
 ing. Now you find a solitude, and are at 
 peace, and the moments are precious." 
 
 " I have loitered too long," replied Letty, 
 "and must run after Alice."
 
 ON THE PRECIPICE. 97 
 
 " Nay," cried Bradley, catching her arm 
 as she was gliding past; "you have been 
 with her all day. Stop for one word with 
 me." 
 
 Letty looked alarmed. 
 
 " Ah ! your face shows you understand it 
 all," pursued Bradley. " You have seen it 
 in me, though my tongue hasn't told it, 
 and may be you have heard of it too — at 
 least from your mother, who, like a Chris- 
 tian woman, wishes to plant your feet in the 
 right path." 
 
 " I fully understand what you mean," said 
 Letty, turning round, and arresting her steps. 
 She made up her mind to be frank with 
 him. His rugged love indeed lacked every- 
 thing that fascinates, but, in this moment 
 of emotion, it appealed to her pity. She 
 saw there was deep, strong feeling, of which 
 she was the object, and the coldness pro- 
 voked by his addresses when urged by her 
 stepmother, now, when he pleaded for him- 
 self, was suppressed. 
 
 ''I say I know your desire," she con- 
 tinued, "and I would spare you farther 
 
 VOL. I. 7
 
 98 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 mention of it. Take this answer kindly, and 
 we will remain friends." And she laid her 
 hand on his, with a deprecating look. 
 
 " Friends ! It is good to be so, but what 
 I feel for you is more than friendship — ay, 
 more than love. I sometimes think it is 
 a too much exalting of the creature, and is 
 making you an idol ; and then I fear it may 
 bring upon me the judgment of having you 
 removed out of my sight^ — perhaps given to 
 another, and that other unworthy ! Letty, 
 Letty ! pity me ! Take me while you can, 
 while your heart is free — before fate steps 
 between us !" 
 
 The appeal came not unforeseen, and 
 Letty heard it to an end. A woman, unless 
 heartless, can never be disdainful to the 
 declaration of an honest suitor, even when 
 he is personally unengaging, and no woman 
 could show a more tender sensibility than 
 Letty. 
 
 " I feel the kindness of all you say," she 
 replied, " and I feel also what you almost 
 admit to be your own conviction that it is 
 more than can be applied to me. Nay,"
 
 ON THE PRECIPICE. 99 
 
 she added, as he made a dissenting gesture, 
 " you there spoke the simple truth." 
 
 "Only in the sense that no creature 
 should exalt another," cried Bradley. " But 
 words are naught. How can what is a fire 
 here" — he struck his breast — " what is ever 
 flaming and burning, be told in words ?" 
 
 " Better it were never told at all," said 
 Letty. 
 
 " What, my love, my deep, abiding love ! 
 Oh ! don't cast it back on me, don't spurn 
 it, and make what is a blessing a curse." 
 
 " I don't — I could not spurn it," rejoined 
 Letty, recoiling, " but" — and her voice be- 
 came firmer — " I can never accept it." 
 
 Bradley seemed thunder-struck : then he 
 burst into a vehement exclamation. 
 
 " This is not my answer — can't, shall not 
 be !" he cried. " You must be mine — mine 
 only and wholly, my spouse before earth 
 and heaven !" 
 
 He made a step forward : still Letty stood 
 confronting him, showing no sign of alarm. 
 
 " Your spouse I will never be !" she said.
 
 100 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 resolutely. " You hear me, Luke Bradley — 
 never 1 never!" 
 
 And she walked away, disappearing 
 through the arch. For a moment Bradley 
 stood like a stock, his eyes following her 
 retreating form till they almost protruded 
 in the intensity of their gaze, then he strode 
 off in search of his horse.
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 DAME Margaret's tower. 
 
 Letty was not so agitated as to fear betray- 
 ing herself under the observation of her 
 friends. Indeed, her defiance of Bradley 
 when he was so violent, for the moment gave 
 her nerve by inspiring her with confidence 
 in her power to resist the persecution which 
 he vowed to maintain, and which she knew 
 would have the support of her stepmother. 
 So she needed to make but little effort to 
 appear composed, though in reality she still 
 felt the whirl of the exciting scenes through 
 which she had passed. And to this whirl 
 she yielded at intervals, allowing it to impel 
 her into wild spirits, which indeed masked 
 her feelings, but also kept them under severe 
 pressure.
 
 102 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 "Here is the lost lady!" cried Harry- 
 Clayton, as she approached. " I was just 
 proposing an expedition to go in quest of 
 you. 
 
 " What would you do if we had sought 
 her all night, and sought her next day, and 
 sought her in vain, and a week passed 
 away ?" asked little Robin. 
 
 " I should almost expect to find her re- 
 mains in Margaret's Tower," said the Pastor, 
 before Harry could reply. 
 
 " There is one of your questions answered 
 at last, Eobby," cried Mr. Eivers. "You 
 didn't know there was an old chest story at 
 Berry Pomeroy." 
 
 " I must confess to the same ignorance," 
 observed Harry, " so I hope Mr. Wingfield 
 will tell it to us if it won't frighten Eobin 
 too much." 
 
 " I am only afraid of disappointing your 
 expectations," rejoined the Pastor; " for the 
 story is very short, and not so romantic as 
 the old oak chest. The tower takes its 
 name from the victim of a murder. Dame 
 Margaret was the sister of Dame Eleanor,
 
 DAME Margaret's tower. 103 
 
 wife of Sir Hugli de Pomeroy, and they 
 lived here together. After a time Eleanor 
 became jealous of her sister — I fear not 
 without cause ; and one day she took ad- 
 vantage of Sir Hugh's absence to immure 
 her in that dungeon. In vain Sir Hugh 
 instituted a search for her on his return. 
 None but Eleanor and an accomplice knew 
 where to look, and it was not till Eleanor 
 was dying that she revealed the secret. 
 Then Sir Hugh flew to the dungeon, but 
 years too late, for all that remained of 
 the once beautiful Margaret was a heap of 
 bones." 
 
 " What a dreadful history," sighed 
 Alice. 
 
 "Shocking," concurred Letty; "and I 
 don't agree with Mr. Wingfield as to its not 
 being romantic, though the romance bears 
 the gloom of the time." 
 
 " 1 think it is gloomy enough for the pre- 
 sent time," remarked Harry; "and Dame 
 Eleanor would make a regulation heroine for 
 a modern novel — only nobody here reads no- 
 vels except myself. Ah ! Mr. Wingfield
 
 104 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 shakes his head at me ! Now shall we go 
 down to the duDgeon ?'' 
 
 " I think we shall all shake our heads to 
 that," said Letty, as she turned to look in 
 at the tower. 
 
 She saw that the roof, as well as the dun- 
 geon, might be reached by a winding stair, 
 and undeterred by the broken steps and 
 dark way, she clambered up, coming out on 
 the top of the tower. Instantly she was 
 seen from below, and the artist and Alice 
 turned to follow. But a glance up the stair 
 daunted Alice, and she left Harry to go on 
 by himself. 
 
 Seven centuries had encrusted Hie roof 
 with the usual growth of ruin — mound and 
 grass and stunted bush, weed and wild 
 flower, laid down by that atomic gardener 
 the air. Letty walked round the tower to 
 the top of the gateway, where a slit in the 
 walls still showed the groove of the port- 
 cullis. Here she looked down on the open 
 space in front of the castle, and was out of 
 sight of her friends, who, remaining on the 
 other side, were shut off from her by the
 
 DAME MARGAJRET's TOWER. 105 
 
 breadth of the fabric. Hardly had she per- 
 ceived this, when she saw Harry emerging 
 from the tower, and another moment brought 
 him to her side. 
 
 '•' You are standing where Dame Eleanor 
 has often walked, thinking of her sister en- 
 tombed below," he said : " a skeleton in a 
 cupboard with a vengeance." 
 
 " If this was vengeance, can it be sweet ?" 
 
 " Such a fury would think it so." 
 
 " What do you think ?" 
 
 " I fancy vengeance is like a deep bout of 
 wine, which is enjoyed at the time, but 
 brings retribution next morning, the differ- 
 ence in the two excesses being simply the 
 difference between headache and heartache." 
 
 "A very material difference, and we may 
 hope Dame Eleanor found it so," observed 
 Letty. 
 
 " Well, this was a vendetta of love, and 
 love changes the nature of things, particu- 
 larly in womankind, as the Pastor would 
 say." 
 
 *'' I shall begin to think the Pastor is our 
 enemy," rejoined Letty. " He is so smitten
 
 106 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 with Alice tliat she has turned his head, 
 just as he has turned hers, and the airs she 
 puts on to him are leading him to hate the 
 whole sex." 
 
 " What it is to be in love ! Love rules 
 the court, the camp, the grove, and the 
 pulpit, too. If I were empowered to act, I 
 would in this case take the poor pulpit out 
 of the fray." 
 
 " Why so ? If the Pastor is to marry, 
 he couldn't have a better wife than Alice ; 
 she is so gentle, so good, and so true. And 
 that is precisely what he is himself." 
 
 "Well, you know the homely proverb 
 about two of a trade, and I believe it applies 
 equally to two of a character. Certainly 
 your sex seem to act on the principle, and 
 you will generally find the meek woman 
 elects to marry a brute, while the virago be- 
 stows her hand and heart on a muff." 
 
 " What a picture, and what a satire on 
 human sympathies ! But I think you are a 
 little severe. And I shall not give up hope 
 of Alice and the Pastor." 
 
 " Depend upon it, they are both too ami-
 
 DAME MAHGAHET'S TOWER. 107 
 
 able not to have a violent quarrel," said 
 Harry, laughing. 
 
 Letty smiled, but it was with a mournful 
 air, a ray through a cloud. 
 
 " And a very pretty effect too," thought 
 the artist. 
 
 " Your prophecy so frightens me, I shall 
 go and look after them," said Letty, " though 
 I never heard before that amiable people 
 were sure to quarrel." And she glided away 
 to the stair. 
 
 But descent proved more difficult than the 
 climbing up, the slanting, winding roof and 
 spiral stair being now, from her backing the 
 light, more veiled in darkness, while her feet 
 found no resting-place on the broken steps. 
 She instantly slipped, and would have fallen 
 to the bottom, only that her father was 
 coming up, and seized her arm in front, while 
 Harry, following at her back, caught her 
 round the waist. 
 
 " I hope you are not hurt," Harry said, 
 eagerly. 
 
 *'We can't go into dark winding ways 
 without getting hurt," remarked Mr. Eivers,
 
 108 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 in his jovial vein. "Lettylias found tliis 
 out now, and as tliere is nothing like a prac- 
 tical lesson, I dare say she will remember it." 
 
 For some reason or other, the words dis- 
 turbed Letty, but she \^s where blushes 
 were not seen — only felt ! And something 
 else she felt — Harry's hand on her heart, 
 where it remained but a moment indeed, and 
 no longer than was required to steady her 
 descent, but it seemed reluctant to unlock. 
 Perhaps the incident recalled her first attrac- 
 tion to the artist, for her blush had vanished 
 when she came into the light, and she looked 
 worn. 
 
 " Letty has seen the skeleton," cried little 
 Robin. 
 
 " Letty is only fagged, dear," said Alice. 
 " We will go and make tea, and she shall 
 have the first cup to revive her.'' 
 
 And they went off*, declining the co-opera- 
 tion of the Pastor, who had indeed already 
 done good service, by ordering the hot water 
 from the lodge. Soon the gentlemen were 
 summoned to the repast, which was spread 
 on a table in the ruined hall; a hissing
 
 DAME Margaret's tower. 109 
 
 kettle stood by ; and Devonshire cream was 
 flanked by loaves from the mill. Through 
 the broken wall they saw the open country, 
 bathed in sunset, and the air brought up its 
 sweetness. All felt the peacefulness of the 
 scene, and they lingered till growing shadows 
 took them by surprise, admonishing Mr. 
 Eivers it was time to depart. 
 
 The farmer and Harry went to harness 
 the horse, leaving the Pastor to bring on 
 the girls and Eobin, but presently they re- 
 turned with the information that they had 
 found the waggonette with a tire broken. To 
 use it in this condition in the steep and 
 rugged lanes, would be dangerous, even if 
 practicable ; so Mr. Eivers decided to re- 
 move it carefully to Totness, the nearest place 
 where the defect could be repaired, but where 
 nothing could now be accomplished before 
 the next day. A council was held as to 
 what should be done with the girls and 
 Eobin. Of course the girls suggested the 
 boldest measure, namely that they should 
 walk home by themselves, a distance of seven 
 miles, while the gentlemen took the wag- 
 gonette to Totness ; but this proposition was
 
 110 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 voted down, and finally, Mr. Elvers went to 
 see if they and Eobin could sleep at the mill. 
 Should this be found impossible, Harry in- 
 sisted that they should occupy his lodging 
 at the cottage, while he took refuge at Tot- 
 ness. 
 
 Meanwhile he and the girls were undis- 
 turbed by the situation of affairs, and kept 
 up a sprightly conversation, drawing only an 
 occasional word from the Pastor, who, as the 
 shades deepened, became nervous about the 
 farmer's continued absence. They laughed 
 at his uneasiness, Harry declaring that, at 
 the worst, they could all bivouac in the 
 ruin, But this necessity was prevented by 
 the return of Mr. Elvers, with the assurance 
 that Letty and Alice could be accommodated 
 at the mill, and, as there was but one bed, 
 he arranged to take Eobin to Totness in the 
 waggonette, leading the horse himself. In 
 the morning he would drive over for the 
 girls as soon as the cart was repaired. 
 
 They had now only to say good night, 
 when Letty and Alice turned in one direc- 
 tion, while the gentlemen and Eobin walked 
 awav in the other.
 
 CHAPTEE XII. 
 
 THE WISHING TREE. 
 
 Night fell with surpassing beauty, warm 
 and soft and brilliant ; and if the sun in the 
 morning had come as a bridegroom out of 
 his chamber, the moon was now as a bride 
 in hers. The clouds were her couch, and, 
 wherever they opened, the sky gave a canopy 
 which the stars powdered with jewels. So 
 still was the air that not a leaf stirred ; and 
 Letty, gazing from the casement of her room, 
 pleased herself with the fancy that the trees 
 were asleep. Suddenly her eye lighted on 
 one sylvan patriarch, which reminded her of 
 an omission in the day's pastime. 
 
 " Alice, we forgot the Wishing Tree," she 
 exclaimed instantly. 
 
 " I never henrd of it/' replied Alice.
 
 112 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " You may see it if you come here," re- 
 joined Letty. 
 
 And she pointed to a solitary tree, on the 
 acclivity in front. 
 
 "Why is it called the Wishing Tree?" 
 asked Alice. 
 
 " Because you will have whatever you wish 
 for, if you run round it three times, without 
 laughing or coughing or stopping." 
 
 " I am afraid the conditions are too 
 easy to insure the reward," said Alice, with 
 heightened interest. 
 
 " Not so easy as you think, especially at 
 night," rejoined Letty. 
 
 " At night ! No ! But who would think 
 of going there at night ?" 
 
 "Well, I do." 
 
 "Letty!" 
 
 " Alice !" 
 
 They both laughed ; but Letty's laugh 
 partook of the excitement she had shown in 
 the afternoon, and which was produced by 
 her interviews with Ealph and Bradley. Not 
 but what she was always ready to be mirth- 
 ful. Her disposition chafed under Puritan 
 restrictions, and any relaxation of their
 
 THE WISHING TREE. 113 
 
 rigour, instead of finding her subdued, cre- 
 ated a rebound that threw her into almost 
 as wild spirits as she had felt to-day. In 
 spite of the incidents of the afternoon, in 
 spite of her critical position, the time had 
 not yet come for her to be serious, except in 
 moments of loneliness, and she was as dis- 
 posed as ever to lead Alice into some inno- 
 cent mischief or girlish frolic. 
 
 *• I see you are only in fun," cried Alice, 
 beginning to undo her hair. 
 
 Letty seemed to muse a moment ; then 
 she said — 
 
 " You must go round the tree at night, 
 Alley, to obtain one very particular wish.'' 
 
 " I couldn't do it for any wish," replied 
 Alice. 
 
 " But it is to see your future husband." 
 
 " I don't care about husbands," said Alice. 
 
 "Don't you feel a natural curiosity?" 
 rejoined Letty. 
 
 " 1 should be very wicked to feel such a 
 motive. Not that I mind going round the 
 tree, only I should do it for fun, and to 
 please you." 
 
 VOL. I. 8
 
 114 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 "Pray don't run into trespasses on my 
 account, because it would be only for fun I 
 should go round myself, if I do it at all, for 
 I know wbo is to be my husband " 
 
 " Yes, Mr. Bradley." 
 
 Letty did not answer. But her cheek 
 paled, and she began to wonder whether her 
 engagement with Ealph would really lead to 
 their union, or whether she might not, in 
 spite of herself, and through incidents she 
 could not foresee, be fated to marry Bradley. 
 There are moments when we are all super- 
 stitious. Letty did not admit to herself 
 that she believed in the Wishing Tree, but 
 what she first thought of as a frolic, now, in 
 truth, exercised over her another and greater 
 attraction. 
 
 " Come, Alley, put on your hat," she said, 
 " and we will go and see what we shall see." 
 
 " An old tree, and a race," answered Alice. 
 " However, I will humour you." 
 
 They went softly down the stairs, not to 
 disturb the other inmates of the cottage, who, 
 as it was now eleven o'clock, had retired to 
 rest. Presently they came into the open air.
 
 THE WISHING TREE. 115 
 
 " What a lovely night !" exclaimed Lettj. 
 "And we should lose it all if we were 
 asleep." 
 
 " "We should be more comfortable, 
 though," answered Alice, drawing closer. 
 
 " Speak for yourself, because for my part, 
 I had rather be here." 
 
 " Ah ! you are always so sentimental." 
 
 " And you are always so sensible," said 
 Letty. 
 
 "I am not afraid, but now we are out 
 here, I feel as if we were doing something 
 wrong." 
 
 " What can there be wrong in it ?" said 
 Letty, her own conscience not quite at 
 ease. 
 
 "Well," replied Alice, "going at this 
 time of night wishing and fishing — for it is 
 a little of both." 
 
 " Now you make me laugh," cried Letty, 
 though a blush tinged her cheek, and her 
 eyes dimmed. 
 
 So they arrived at the Wishing Tree. 
 
 The spot had really a weird look, the old 
 tree, its trunk black with centuries, standing 
 
 8—2
 
 116 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 Tip alone in the moonlight, which gave a 
 spectral tint to its boughs; while an adjoining 
 hollow lay partly in shadow, partly in the 
 same ghostly light, which at one point fell 
 also in a blaze of silver on the mill stream. 
 To the left the woods deepened the darkness ; 
 on the right they stood out clear, and a line 
 midway was frosted with radiance. In this 
 gleam rose the castle, catching the effect on 
 its projections, but in the mass remaining 
 dark, so that altogether it appeared like a 
 fantastic heap. 
 
 Letty, as she looked round, forgot every- 
 thing but the scene, and uttered an exclama- 
 tion of delight, but Alice was not so en- 
 chanted. 
 
 " We will run round at once, Letty," she 
 said, " and get it over." 
 
 " You go first, then," said Letty. 
 
 " No, you go, and then I shall see how to 
 do it." 
 
 " Yery well, but we must first recite the 
 charm." 
 
 And Letty broke into the following 
 strain : —
 
 THE WISHING TREE. 117 
 
 " Bound about without a laugh, 
 Round about without a cough, 
 Hound again, three times in all. 
 Never stopped by breath or fall, 
 Then the first who comes in sight, 
 In the shade or in the light. 
 As you clear the Wishing Tree, 
 He your future mate shall be." 
 
 The low, soft notes rose in the solitude 
 with a witch-like effect, and, as the sound 
 died away, Letty started on her race. The 
 course was marked by a path, encircling the 
 tree, and seemed lit by the moon, so that 
 the difficulty of the ground was only mani- 
 fest on trial. Clumped by the tree's jutting 
 roots, here thrown up, here sinking, the 
 track, in fact, was nowhere level, and tempted 
 a trip at every step. But the young girl 
 had a sure tread. "With her dress gathered 
 round and raised from her feet, and her 
 tresses streaming behind, she darted on, and 
 completed a circuit without a stumble. Alice 
 now called out, but Letty continued her 
 course without making a response. Silent 
 and alert, she kept her whole mind on the 
 race, as if she thoroughly believed in the
 
 118 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 charm. Thus she made a second circuit, 
 and still tore on. Her breath was beginning 
 to fail, her heart throbbed, her head was be- 
 coming giddy ; but she needed only a few 
 steps to complete the third circuit, when 
 suddenly she made a bound, and with a low 
 cry, threw herself on Alice. 
 
 " What is the matter ?" exclaimed a man's 
 voice. 
 
 She raised her head from Alice's shoulder, 
 and recognized Harry Clayton. 
 
 "There !" she said, with a half shudder, 
 and pointing towards the tree, "Who is 
 that ?" 
 
 " There is nobody there !" answered 
 Harry. 
 
 "No," faltered Alice, her tone marking 
 sympathy with her friend's, though the 
 arrival of Harry had broken the shock to 
 her nerves. 
 
 "I saw somebody, I am sure of it," 
 murmured Letty, straining her gaze on the 
 spot. 
 
 " Come and satisfy yourself," said Harry, 
 taking her hand to lead her forward.
 
 THE WISHING TREE. 119 
 
 But she hung back, and Harry went on 
 by himself. 
 
 " Was it the person you expected ?" Alice 
 now whispered to Letty, in the same tremor. 
 
 Letty shook her head. 
 
 "Was it any one you knew?" pursued 
 Alice. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Tell me whom." 
 
 " I saw Luke Bradley," said Letty, in a 
 troubled tone. 
 
 Alice made no reply, as they were here 
 rejoined by Harry. 
 
 "I have looked all round," he said t^ 
 Letty, " and have satisfied myself you were 
 mistaken. But there is a stump of a tree, 
 which looks just like a crouching man, and 
 probably that is what you saw." 
 
 " Could it be, do you think ?" asked 
 Letty, with a sigh of relief. " Let me see 
 it." 
 
 They all walked on, and Harry pointed 
 out the stump, which at a little distance 
 might, indeed, seem a human form to an 
 excited imagination.
 
 120 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 "Anyhow, there are tresspassers here," 
 said Letty, covering her trepidation with an 
 assumption of gaiety, " and you will have 
 to explain your own appearance, Mr. Clay- 
 ton, if you fall in with the Duke of Somer- 
 set's gamekeepers." 
 
 " If you are taken up for a poacher, you 
 must send to the mill for us," said Alice, 
 catching her friend's tone. 
 
 " I should be very proud of such bail," 
 returned Harry, " but I took the precaution 
 to see the keeper, and tell him my object, 
 which is to paint the ruin by moonlight. 
 But what if he fall in with you ? What 
 account will you give of yourselves ?" 
 
 " We shall not be suspected of poaching,'* 
 answered Letty ; " and besides, we are 
 sleeping on the premises." 
 
 " Sleeping ! In the fashion of somnam- 
 bulists, then, which is being wide awake." 
 
 " At any rate, Letty has been dreaming," 
 said Alice, " and we may say she has had 
 the nightmare." 
 
 " Ah, that is the drawback of an imagi- 
 native nature," observed the artist. " Miss
 
 THE WISHING TEEE. 121 
 
 Letty can dream witli her eyes open ; but 
 if she sees the poetry of life one moment, 
 she conjures up a terror the next. The 
 best way is to treat it all as dreaming." 
 
 " But life is real," said Letty, gravely. 
 
 "You have plenty of time to discover 
 that," replied Harry, "and I venture to 
 hold you haven't found it out yet, whatever 
 you think yourself. I know young ladies 
 — yes, and young lads, too — believe they 
 understand it all. But they are still only 
 dreaming. Indeed, I can't say I am yet out 
 of the stage myself, though I have been bat- 
 tling in life from a child." 
 
 " I may have had no battle," answered 
 Letty, " yet I know that life has shadows, 
 and I see some now." 
 
 "There are shadows here," rejoined the 
 artist, sweeping his hand round the land- 
 scape, ** and even these would make some 
 feel timid; yet how picturesque they are, 
 flickering in the moonlight, which seems to 
 impersonate youth ; for at your age, and of 
 course Miss Alice's also, the shadows of life 
 are like these."
 
 122 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 "What I mean are like the one I saw 
 yonder," said Letty, pointing at the crooked 
 stump. " But I shall take your advice, and 
 think I was dreaming, which I hope we 
 soon shall be ; so good-night, Mr. Clayton." 
 
 " You must allow me to see you to the 
 door," urged Harry. 
 
 They accepted his offer, and all walked 
 on. At this moment, a huge black cloud, 
 which came up unnoticed, blotted out the 
 moon, leaving them in darkness. 
 
 " Youth is gone," said Letty, remember- 
 ing Harry's simile of the moonlight. 
 
 " It is only under a cloud," replied Harry. 
 
 " Such a cloud as makes me wish we were 
 safe in-doors," observed Alice, timidly, " for 
 I believe there will be a thunder-storm. Do 
 make haste, Letty." 
 
 " Now isn't Alice matter-of-fact ?" Letty 
 said to the artist. " I assure you she sBes 
 nothing but the plain object, and never 
 looks for its associations. All poetry is 
 thrown away upon her." 
 
 " At least, all sentiment is," said Alice ; 
 " but sentiment isn't poetry, any mere than 
 moonshine is youth."
 
 THE WISHING TREE. 123 
 
 " Still youth is very mucli taken with 
 moonshine," observed Harry. " You won't 
 deny that, particularly" — for here the silver 
 orb burst from the cloud, and re-illumined 
 the scene — " as you are certainly glad to 
 see it again." 
 
 They all laughed, and their voices rang 
 out on the night, like music. But there 
 was one near, who, never coupling mirth 
 with innocence, and making no allowance 
 for youthful spirits, heard in this glee 
 only sinful revelry. For it was no illu- 
 sion that as she ran round the tree, 
 startled Letty, and the figure she took for^ 
 Bradley was really he. Screened by the 
 thicket, he observed her meeting with 
 Harry ; then, stealing along in the shadow, 
 he watched them to the door of the mill, 
 where he kept them in view till they parted. 
 
 The demon of jealousy now held posses- 
 sion of his breast, and not only suppressed 
 his better feelings, but aroused his capa- 
 bilities of evil. The same impulse which 
 influenced his mind in religion, asserted 
 itself in his passion, imbuing this with a
 
 124 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 kindred fanaticism. The artist's supposed 
 attention to Letty wore an impress of 
 devilry in his eye, and he worked himself 
 into believing that he might resort to any 
 means to thwart one, who, with words of 
 honey on his lips, sought to entrap a Chris- 
 tian soul. In short, he considered this 
 worldling was filling Letty's head with 
 vanity, and her heart with deceits, and that 
 none but himself was alive to her danger. 
 Hence it behoved him to take strong mea- 
 sures to save her from destruction. He was 
 in the mood that impelled the old Puritans 
 to smite hip and thigh, and like them, he 
 prayed that he might be directed in his 
 course, and strengthened for whatever work 
 it required him to perform. 
 
 It struck him that his first step should be 
 to admonish Harry. The tempter must be 
 confronted in the moment when he thought 
 that his designs were covered by darkness, 
 and that no eye was looking on, and finding 
 that Letty was protected, he might be warned 
 and depart. 
 
 Such was Bradley's resolution when the
 
 THE WISHING TREE. 125 
 
 two girls disa*ppeared in the mill, allaying 
 for a moment the rage he felt at seeing 
 Letty with Harry. But Alice revived his 
 fury by waving her hand to Harry as she 
 shut the casement, for Bradley, seeing a 
 woman's form, and too distant to distinguish 
 her features, thought this farewell was from 
 Letty. His anger deepened when Harry 
 bent his steps towards the ruin, for it now 
 flashed upon him that Letty was coming 
 out to meet him there, and that the signal 
 from the window apprised him of this de- 
 sign. He made a slant through the wood 
 to be first on the spot, galling and goading* 
 himself as he went ; and thus he stood in 
 the shadow of a projection till Harry should 
 arrive. 
 
 The artist came on in the confidence of 
 security. For an instant his mind retained 
 the remembrance of the two girls, as if they 
 were still before his eye, but it was only a 
 floating reminiscence, and vanished on sight 
 of the ruin. He forgot the real in his sen- 
 sibility to the poetic, and, seized by this, 
 his mind now^ perceived nothing but the
 
 126 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 picture. There are artists who see with the 
 eye of a mechanic, noting every effect, but 
 never catching the inspiration ; and their 
 canvas presents an elaborate portraiture, 
 with the same deficiency. On the other 
 hand, there are artists whom every form of 
 beauty fires with enthusiasm. This tones 
 their conception, and so animates their touch 
 that they give a picture life, while they de- 
 lineate its features. It was to study for 
 such an effort that Harry stopped in the 
 doorway, the deep shadow of which con- 
 cealed Bradley. Believing he was alone, 
 Harry turned round to scan the interior of 
 the ruin, and allowed his charmed gaze to 
 be absorbed by the variations of light, here 
 tinging the hoary wall, or waving ivy, here 
 illumining the grass-grown battlement. 
 
 A step off stood his enemy, lashing him- 
 self to madness by supposing that he was 
 waiting for the reappearance of Letty. 
 What if he fastened on Harry's throat, and 
 made him swear to abandon Letty, and leave 
 the country ! The thought no sooner en- 
 tered his mind than he put it in practice.
 
 THE WISHING TREE. 127 
 
 springing on Harry like a tiger. His hands 
 held the artist powerless for an instant. 
 They twined round his breast, and pinned 
 down his arms, while the grip of a vice was 
 on his throat. But Harry had the strength 
 of youth and health, and strained it to the 
 utmost. At first, he was unable to free 
 himself, but he turned his assailant round 
 and round, the one wrenching, the other 
 grappling, their feet tearing up the ground 
 in the struggle, and their breath coming in 
 gasps. Thus they swung round to the 
 edge of the precipice. Of this both caught 
 sight, and it gave them a new impulse. 
 Bradley, with his blood up, and ready to 
 burst from the big veins on his forehead, 
 knew not what he was doing in his rage, 
 and tried to throw Harry into the depth 
 below, while Harry flung his leg round a 
 wild plum tree, on the very brink, and from 
 this stay, pressed his breast against the 
 steward, so that he must either relax his 
 hold, or go over with him. Bradley was 
 more willing that they should die together 
 than that Harry should escape, and his desire
 
 128 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 would have been gratified, only that this 
 juncture interposed another arm, which, 
 dragging them both back from the precipice, 
 plucked them asunder. Still dizzy and 
 reeling, the}'- found big Jack Eeeve standing 
 between them. 
 
 " Fight fair, masters, if you want to fight," 
 he said, " and I'll stand by, and see fair play. 
 But, if you'll take my counsel, you'll wait 
 till you can stop short o' murdering; for 
 that's what you were just trying at, whoever 
 begun it." 
 
 " It was that madman — for mad he must 
 be !" exclaimed Harry ; "or, now that my 
 hands are free, he shouldn't leave this spot 
 unpunished." 
 
 " This man saved you from death, and me 
 from bloodshedding," retorted Bradley in a 
 thick voice. " Take it as warning, and be 
 gone from this country, if there is any grace 
 left in your soul." 
 
 Harry began to think the steward was 
 really out of his mind, and stared at him in 
 silence. 
 
 " We'd better all go," remarked the 
 shearer, " it ain't a time o' night to be in
 
 THE WISHING TREE. 129 
 
 tbe woods, unless we want to be took up for 
 poaching, which I never was yet ; and I 
 didn't half like coming after young master 
 here, only they told me at the cottage he 
 might stay in the ruin all night." 
 
 " Yes, it is for ruin he has come — to ruin 
 a child, a young innocent girl," cried Brad- 
 ley. 
 
 " Is that it ?" exclaimed Jack, " then you 
 might have thrown him over the cliff for 
 what I cared." 
 
 " He is raving !" said Harry. 
 
 " Didn't I see you with her but now ?" 
 cried Bradley, in tones hoarse with passion. 
 " I say now, at midnight, in a spot like 
 this — could that be for aught but evil? 
 you being a stranger, a vagabond, wandering 
 to and fro on the earth, like the cast-out 
 devil. And didn't she wave her hand to 
 you from the window ? And arn't you wait- 
 ing here now till she comes to you again ?" 
 
 " To all this," returned Harry, " I answer 
 no ! not to satisfy a maligner like you, but 
 to vindicate the young girl you slander, 
 whichever of the two it may be." 
 
 VOL. I. 9
 
 130 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " I slander none," answered Bradley, a 
 little dismayed by the word, " but I tell you 
 the evil you do you shall answer for. The 
 consequence be on your own head, if you 
 despise the warning." 
 
 And with this menace he turned through 
 the arch and disappeared. 
 
 " Is this man subject to these delusions ?" 
 said Harry to the shearer. 
 
 " Well, look here, master," replied Jack, 
 " I don't know exactly what's been going 
 on, but I make guess, for I heard our Miss 
 Letty was stopping at the mill, and I ex- 
 pect she's the bottom o' this fall-out. Now, 
 I come to see you on the business we talked 
 about, and, may be, I was going to help 
 you, and may be, I wasn't. But that's 
 neither here nor there. You must put your- 
 self straight about this lass before you and 
 me pull together." 
 
 " You are an honest fellow, Jack, and I 
 will be as patient as I can with you," an- 
 swered Harry ; " but after the tussle I have 
 had, I am not in a humour to be baited again, 
 and your speech is a little in that way."
 
 THE WISHING TREE. 13l 
 
 "Very like, master. But you see, Mr. 
 Bradley were a bit tried too. We know 
 he's keeping company with Miss Eivers." 
 
 " I didn't know it. But suppose he is, 
 what is that to me ?" 
 
 " I don't say it's much. If you fancy 
 her, too, well and good, only it should be 
 fair and above board, and sneaking about 
 with the lass in the woods at night isn't 
 that," 
 
 " You put it rather strong, after every 
 allowance for your motives. Jack, but I have 
 more than myself to clear, so I tell you 
 what you have already been told at the cot- 
 tage, that I came to the ruin solely to see it 
 by moonlight. It was by accident that I 
 met Miss Eivers, who was not alone, but 
 accompanied by her friend. Miss Mead." 
 Jack pricked his ears at the mention of Alice. 
 " They were a little frightened, thinking 
 they saw somebody among the trees — per- 
 haps it was this very fellow — and I walked 
 on with them to the mill, where we parted. 
 Now you have the whole history." 
 
 9—2
 
 132 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 "Then you ain't waiting here for her 
 now ?" said Jack, dubiously. 
 
 Harry began to chafe under this inquisi- 
 tion, and scorning further explanation, he 
 turned away with a gesture of impatience. 
 In this mood he reached the cottage where 
 he had obtained a lodging. The inmates 
 had gone to bed, but he found the door un- 
 locked, in expectation of his return, and he 
 made his way to his own room.
 
 CHAPTEE XIII. 
 
 LOOKS A VERY PUETTY QUARREL. 
 
 The reflections of tlie next morning did not 
 relieve Harry of his vexation. Having set 
 his mind on attempting to get possession of 
 the Hall, he regretted that he had taken so 
 little pains to satisfy Jack Eeeve, whose •co- 
 operation would be so valuable. Indeed, 
 Jack's secession forced him to consider, not 
 only whether the scheme was practicable, 
 but whether it might not be deemed felonious. 
 He had before felt a misgiving which 
 prompted him to send a statement of the 
 case to a legal friend, and he now resolved, 
 at least, to defer action till he obtained an 
 opinion on his claim. In the interim his 
 avocations would keep him in the neighbour- 
 hood, and he might acquire some information 
 to guide his proceedings.
 
 134 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 At a time when his mind was thus occu- 
 pied by an absorbing idea, it was most pro- 
 voking to be dragged into difficulties through 
 Letty. It is true, Letty was very pretty, and 
 she had, besides, an indescribable charm, which 
 was independent of her features, and which 
 seemed now to hinge on her voice and air, now 
 on the grace of her movements, but, in 
 reality, was all these combined. Though 
 she was at present rather a blossom than a 
 flower, Harry foresaw a not distant period 
 when he might find her a dangerous as- 
 sociate. Indeed he discovered that he was 
 already thinking of her too much ; for his 
 encounter with Bradley thrust her in his 
 path in a manner that engaged his imagina- 
 tion. But he regarded this abstraction as 
 weakness. What had he to do with such 
 mooning ? he, barely able to earn his bread 
 by toil, pursued through failure and disap- 
 pointment, and now contemplating a struggle 
 for the lands of his ancestors ! To allow 
 himself, in his position, to drift into reveries 
 about Letty, was to give up the first aim of 
 his life. Let him recover his inheritance
 
 LOOKS A VERY PRETTY QUARREL. 135 
 
 and win distinction, and then lie might think 
 of love. 
 
 This was an after-breakfast meditation, a 
 time of day when the heart is most worldly, 
 as after dinner it is most sympathetic. 
 Harry had strolled forth with his easel, and 
 planted himself at a point to command a 
 good view of the ruin, intending now to fill 
 in the outline of his picture. Between his 
 thoughts and work, his attention was so en- 
 gaged, that, looking at nothing but the 
 castle, he was unconscious of a step ap- 
 proaching through the wood, and, screened 
 by a bank, he was himself unseen till con- 
 fronted. An exclamation caused him to 
 turn round, and he beheld Letty. 
 
 The surprise confused Harry, and she 
 perceived and caught his embarrassment. 
 
 " I am ashamed to have interrupted you," 
 she said, apologetically. "But we expect 
 my father to come for us every moment, and 
 I ran out for a farewell look at the castle, 
 not imagining anyone would be here." She 
 recovered herself as she spoke, and her blue 
 eyes were again beaming. But there was a
 
 136 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 timidity in them, too, as they rose to the 
 artist's face, and he once more perceived 
 that she was very pretty indeed. 
 
 " Grood-bye !" she continued, " I mustn't 
 stop you from working." 
 
 "You don't stop me," replied Harry, 
 " and you would be cruel to appear only to 
 run away." 
 
 " It is very amiable of you to make such 
 a speech under the circumstances, but I must 
 go all the same, or Alice will be coming in 
 search of me, and papa will have two ab- 
 sentees to look for." 
 
 " Let me have the pleasure of walking 
 back with you, and there will be no ab- 
 sentees, and I can stay to shake hands with 
 Mr. Eivers." 
 
 " You say nothing about Alice." 
 
 "You don't think I mean to leave out 
 pretty Alice ?" 
 
 " That might easily be done ; for Alice is 
 rather disposed to keep out of sight." 
 
 "Another reason against her marrying 
 our poor Pastor," said Harry. 
 
 " I think you are determined that mar-
 
 LOOKS A VERY PRETTY QUARREL. 137 
 
 riage shall not take place if you can prevent 
 it." 
 
 " I shall do nothing to prevent it, not 
 even to the extent of giving advice, which 
 is so amusing, that I believe I am the only 
 person in the world who never gives any. I 
 often see people doing the wrong thing by 
 mistake, and I think what a pity it is, but I 
 never say anything, at least to themselves. 
 It does very well to talk to a friend about 
 afterwards." 
 
 "What a strange notion you have of 
 sympathy." 
 
 " Well, I don't think much of lip-sym- 
 pathy. Mine is in the heart. I feel for 
 people, but I don't make a boast of it to 
 them." 
 
 " Ah ! you told me before how good you 
 were," laughed Letty. " But see," for here 
 they sighted the mill, "who is yonder? 
 Alice herself !" 
 
 It was not only Alice, but Mr. Elvers, 
 and, to Letty 's surprise, Ralph, who had 
 met the farmer at Totness, and learning his 
 destination, came to the domain in his com-
 
 138 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 pany. The attention gratified Letty, and 
 she determined to reward her lover by giving 
 him an opening for a few minutes apart ; so 
 she sat down on the stump of a tree, an- 
 nouncing that she would wait for her father 
 to pick her up on his way. 
 
 " I hope he will understand it," she added, 
 in order to induce Harry to volunteer his 
 services as messenger, "but they seem a little 
 bewildered, don't they ?" 
 
 "Ah! you bewilder everybody," replied 
 Harry, coolly seating himself on another 
 stump. 
 
 " !N'ow do you know what I thought you 
 were going to say?" rejoined Letty. 
 
 Harry mused a moment. 
 
 " Impossible to imagine," he replied ; " I 
 give it up." 
 
 "Well, I fancied you would propose to 
 go and tell my papa to come on for 
 me. 
 
 " How clever ladies are ! You will hardly 
 believe now that I did think of it." 
 
 " Then why didn't you do it ?" 
 
 " I decided that it would be more civil to
 
 LOOKS A VERT PRETTY QUARREL. 139 
 
 stay with you here, and it is undeniably 
 more pleasant." 
 
 " But I can't stay, unless you go," laughed 
 Letty. 
 
 *' In that case," said Harry, " and if you 
 make a favour of it." 
 
 " To be sure I do." 
 
 " Then I am gone," cried Harry. 
 
 He set off, just as his delay with Letty 
 was infuriating Ealph, who, unable to re- 
 strain himself, slipped away from the stable, 
 where Mr. Eivers was attending the horse, 
 and came on to interrupt the conference. 
 He had found out that he deeply loved 
 Letty, and he was cut to the quick to see 
 her in the artist's company, remembering 
 that Bradley had represented him as a 
 dangerous competitor. It has been shown 
 that his own declaration to Letty was un- 
 premeditated, but, once made, it cost him 
 no regret. As he rode away, he felt that 
 he was in a scrape, which might mar all his 
 prospects in life, but the object reconciled 
 him to the sacrifice. Still the more he real- 
 ised his love for Letty, the more he dis-
 
 140 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 trusted Harry, and there could be no doubt 
 the feeling between himself and Harry 
 was reciprocal; they now, indeed, passed 
 each other without any token of recog- 
 nition. 
 
 As Ealph approached, Letty saw his 
 gloomy look, and her own face clouded. 
 
 " What has that fellow been saying to 
 you ?" Ealph demanded, as he came up. 
 
 " Do you mean Mr. Clayton ? " answered 
 Letty, coldly ; " I really wasn't prepared 
 for such a polite inquiry, or I should have 
 treasured up his remarks, but I daresay I 
 can recall them, if you are so interested." 
 
 " Nothing he said could interest me. 
 I am only vexed that you allow him to be 
 dangling after you." 
 
 " I don't know what you call dangling — 
 unless it means that he met me by accident 
 — for that is what happened. Indeed, it 
 was I who came unexpectedly on him." 
 And Letty's face flushed, but more in re- 
 proach than anger. 
 
 It was such a pretty flush, just deepening 
 the bloom of her cheek, and spreading no
 
 LOOKS A VERY PRETTY QUARREL. 141 
 
 further, tliat Ealph forgot his grievance in 
 admiration. 
 
 " What is there to be said against this ?" 
 continued Letty, pursuing her victory. 
 
 " Nothing whatever, nor against anything 
 my own Letty wishes to do," answered the 
 subdued Ealph. " I simply wished to 
 caution you against this man." 
 
 " And this man is a friend of my papa's, 
 and a very polite, gentlemanly man, who 
 has never cautioned me against anybody." 
 
 " There was no occasion for it." 
 
 " And certainly he has given no occasion* 
 for anyone else to do it," said Letty. 
 
 " Then I have been misinformed, dear 
 Letty, and you must forgive me; for I 
 have come seven miles this morning on the 
 chance of saying a word to you, thinking 
 all the way of the pleasure it would be." 
 
 Letty's face showed signs of unbending. 
 
 " As for this person" — 
 
 " Now, do say Mr. Clayton, Ealph," broke 
 in Letty. 
 
 " Well, Mr. Clayton, why should he be a 
 cause of contention between us ?"
 
 142 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " Why, indeed ?" answered Letty ; " only 
 I find him very amusing, and I must persist 
 in saying he does everything to make him- 
 self agreeable. But I know who has set 
 you against him — Luke Bradley." 
 
 " Never mind, you don't want to talk of 
 him now." 
 
 " But I want you to be civil to him." 
 
 " I will do anything you wish." 
 
 " That is kind, and I hope I shall never 
 wish you to do anything to regret. And 
 now I may tell you I sent Mr. Clayton 
 away, thinking you would come on, and I 
 should thus see you alone for a minute." 
 
 " Dear, dear Letty ! And I rewarded you 
 by complaints. What a bear you must think 
 me !" 
 
 So all was made up, and they talked on 
 till the waggonette was seen leaving the mill. 
 
 " Here they come," said Ralph, " so we 
 must now arrange when you will meet me 
 again." 
 
 " I fear there will be some difficulty in 
 that," replied Letty, thinking of her step-
 
 LOOKS A VERY PRETTY QUARREL. 143 
 
 mother ; " but I will contrive some plan in 
 about a week." 
 
 " A week ! you might as well say a year 
 at once, Letty. How am I to live without 
 you for a week ?" 
 
 But now the waggonette came up, with 
 Mr. Eivers and Alice, attended by Harry on 
 foot, and there was a general leave-taking, 
 for the artist remained behind, and Ealph, 
 not to raise any suspicion of designs on 
 Letty, judged it prudent to ride off another 
 way.
 
 CHAPTEE XIV. 
 
 NOTICE TO QUIT. 
 
 For deepening love, there is nothing like a 
 quarrel, particularly if it is followed by im- 
 mediate reconciliation. Certainly, Letty 
 thought more of Ealph after their little 
 brush than before, and thought less of 
 Harry. She considered that she was not 
 much in love with Ealph, and she remem- 
 bered having felt a momentary attraction to 
 the artist, but any vantage he derived from 
 this was soon outweighed by Ealph, who 
 won the preference. And now it came into 
 her mind to measure them together. In per- 
 son they were not only on an equality, but, as 
 already shown, presented a strong resem- 
 blance ; and if tlie artist had less assumption, 
 Ealph possessed what the artist altogether
 
 NOTICE TO QUIT. 145 
 
 lacked — deep and genuine feeling. For be- 
 neath Harry's sentiment — sometimes in the 
 sentiment itself — Letty perceived a sordidness 
 which leavened his whole character. Ralph, 
 on the other hand, showed a nature sterling 
 at bottom, a little choked by the over- 
 growth, but this was composed rather of 
 habits than qualities. Such was his rough- 
 ness, all on the outside — his assumption, 
 and what he had yet hardly shown to Letty, 
 his irresolution. Letty did not take in his 
 full stature ; but, with a woman's insight, 
 she saw that his character was one to gra? 
 dually come out brighter, and, indeed, 
 fancied the illumination had already be- 
 gun. So, without owning to any romance, 
 or considering herself deeply in love, Letty 
 was pleased at looking forward to be 
 Ralph's wife. Nor did this impression 
 necessarily require the incentive of love ; for 
 her engagement afforded a relief to the dul- 
 ness of her life — to the round of monotonous 
 duties which did not satisfy her activity, and 
 to the yoke of chapel-going. It gave her 
 excitement ; it furnished her with something 
 
 VOL. I. 10
 
 146 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 to think and dream of in her hours of soli- 
 tude ; and it insured both deliverance from 
 her stepmother and a triumph, over her. 
 Such feelings Letty did not recognise, still 
 less foster, but they might exist without her 
 conscious inspiration. 
 
 One thing, indeed, still caused Letty dis- 
 quiet; her apprehensions of Bradley — not 
 the less depressing from being shapeless, for 
 they excited a vague dread, which, as she said 
 in the wood, kept her under a shadow. And 
 the shadow always extended in front, seem- 
 ing to darken her whole future. 
 
 On reaching home, she avoided the eye 
 of her step-mother, w^ho did not, how- 
 ever, subject her to much scrutiny, but 
 received all the party in her usual quiet 
 manner. Alice stopped with Letty for the 
 remainder of the day, and as soon as she 
 was gone, Letty pleaded a headache as a 
 reason for retiring to her own room. 
 
 Next day Letty still expected to be ques- 
 tioned, but Mrs. Eivers, though they were 
 several times alone, never touched on the 
 subject of her relations with either Ealph
 
 NOTICE TO QUIT. 147 
 
 or Bradley. But they both knew that this 
 was in the other's mind, and they watched 
 each other with all the vigilance of their 
 sex. Hence Letty was afraid to walk out, 
 lest she should meet Ealph, and be seen in 
 his company, and she confined herself to 
 strolling about the farm, under the escort of 
 Eobin. In this way they passed a week, 
 Letty being in constant apprehension of a 
 visit from Bradley. But here she was des- 
 tined to a welcome surprise, for the steward, 
 after having called at the house daily for a 
 long time, now unaccountably made no ap-^ 
 pearance. 
 
 Such was the situation of affairs when 
 Mr. Rivers, whose lease had nearly run out, 
 received from Mr. Granby a notice to quit 
 the farm, which the Squire stated was to be 
 converted into a model farm, under his own 
 superintendence. In point of fact, the farm 
 was already a model one, Mr. Eivers having 
 sunk all his means in its culture, and what 
 the Squire sought was to reap the advan- 
 tage of this investment, by taking the land 
 himself. Meanwhile, his tenant could re- 
 
 10—2
 
 148 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 move notliing but the plant and stock, 
 which he would have to sell on the spot, at 
 risk of sacrifice, unless another farm of 
 the same extent could be immediately se- 
 cured. 
 
 The notice was a blow to Mr. Elvers, but 
 he preserved his usual cheerfulness, and 
 tried to inspire a kindred spirit in his wife. 
 This, however, was not to be accomplished. 
 Mrs. Elvers saw the future through a dark 
 horoscope, and Letty could not but share 
 her despondency. The change brought her 
 to think more seriously of her engagement 
 to Ealph, and the obstacles to their union, 
 which under such circumstances seemed 
 insuperable ; at the same time, she seemed 
 in greater danger from Bradley, and, cer- 
 tainly, everyone would condemn her refusal 
 of such an offer, in the altered prospects of 
 her family. 
 
 These thoughts so occupied her mind, 
 that she forgot her step- mother's watchful- 
 ness, and walked out alone, directing her 
 steps to a spot which, intersecting the ap- 
 proaches to the Hall, gave a chance of a
 
 NOTICE TO QUIT. 149 
 
 meeting with Ealph. Love would seem to 
 have a mystic instinct, which we obey with- 
 out perceiving, and then impute to accident 
 what is the result of secret magnetism. 
 Thus it happened that Ealph did appear in 
 the avenue, arriving there almost at the 
 same moment as herself. 
 
 " You promised to contrive a meeting in 
 a week," he said, " so I came here on expec- 
 tation, believing this would be the place." 
 
 " I am very glad you thought of it," said 
 Letty, with a bright smile. 
 
 "It was rather clever in both of us," re- 
 joined Ealph, gaily, "and, better than 
 clever, it shows we have something of the 
 same mind. And I have another proof of 
 this, dear Letty, in your consent to secrecy ; 
 a proof which claims from me some expla- 
 nation of the necessity." 
 
 " You say there are reasons for it, and I 
 can imagine them, without putting you to 
 the pain of an explanation." 
 
 Ealph responded to this speech by a loving 
 pressure of her hand. 
 
 " But it will be more painful to me to
 
 150 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 keep silent," he said, "because I have in a 
 manner to justify myself as well as enligh- 
 ten you. I wish to show you that my mo- 
 tives are not those of a servile dependent on 
 a rich relative." 
 
 " I could not connect you with anything 
 servile," answered Letty. 
 
 " Yet I must appear to be in this posi- 
 tion, and I do find it rather try me, though 
 up to this time I have never received any 
 favour from my uncle. It is against my 
 own wish that I stay at the Hall, and solely 
 by his desire, and because he makes what I 
 think a great sacrifice in my interest. In 
 short, Letty, he has promised I shall be his 
 heir. I begged him not to abstain from 
 marrying on my account, as I should prefer 
 to go and fight my own way in the world ; 
 but he decides for himself, and I can't but 
 feel pleasure in the thought of one day in- 
 heriting the lands of my ancestors." 
 
 Letty was touched by this disclosure of 
 his position, and of the manliness of his 
 feelings, and she showed her appreciation in 
 her looks.
 
 NOTICE TO QUIT. 151 
 
 " Now he has given me to understand 
 that on this point I am wholly at his 
 mercy," continued Ealph, "as he has the 
 power to cut the entail. Perhaps I allowed 
 too much weight to this fact hitherto ; then 
 how must I estimate it now, when my pros- 
 pects will all be shared with my Letty." 
 
 Letty laid her hand lovingly on his arm. 
 
 " On no account would I have you dis- 
 please your uncle," she said ; " but as for 
 me, remember this, however your prospects 
 change, I shall be the same." 
 
 She spoke from her heart ; could it ba 
 without devoted love ? Ealph, at least, did 
 not think so ; and he walked by her side, in 
 all the happiness of requited affection. They 
 turned to a footpath, w^hich, passing over a 
 meadow, cut off a loop of the road, emerg- 
 ing opposite a path to her father's farm. 
 Letty saw that Ealph was not aware that 
 her father had been served with the notice 
 to quit, and her delicacy shrank from men- 
 tioning the subject which might seem to 
 appeal for his intervention. So she allowed 
 him to talk on, making cheerful responses,
 
 152 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 till, after much loitering, tliey reached the 
 opposite side. 
 
 " You must now let me go on alone," she 
 said, "or we may find it difiicult to meet 
 again." 
 
 She held out her hand as she was mount- 
 ing the stile, but Ealph vaulted over, and 
 handed her down on the other side. 
 
 '•' By Jove !" he exclaimed, as she stepped 
 on the road, " here is my uncle !" 
 
 " How unfortunate !" exclaimed Letty. 
 
 Ealph flushed to the brow, and turned 
 away, without further adieu, while Letty 
 crossed the road to the footpath opposite, 
 and disappeared in a coppice.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 SURPRISED. 
 
 Mr. Byrne G-ranby had readied the age of 
 fifty and five. Jumping from a property of 
 four hundred a year into the estate and name 
 of the Glranbys, he brought to his new posi- 
 tion the meanness of shabby gentihty, with 
 more than patrician pride. To lay out as 
 little as possible on improvements, and let 
 his farms at a rack-rent, while he allowed 
 the labourers' cottages to fall to pieces, in 
 order to clear the estate of the poor, and thus 
 evade the parochial assessment — this was his 
 notion of the duties of a landlord. On the 
 other hand, his pride, resting on the gene- 
 alogy of the Granbys, taught him to look 
 with disdain on the highest families of the 
 county, while he regarded the middle and
 
 154 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 humbler classes simply as beings of an in- 
 ferior creation. The feeling even entered 
 into his religion, and, like the Pharisee of 
 old, he thanked God that he was not as 
 other men, but of a superior material. And 
 he evinced the same thankfulness to the 
 Deity on every point where it tended to his 
 own exaltation, constantly proclaiming that 
 his possessions were given to him by Heaven, 
 so that men might understand they were 
 held by the grace of Grod, as the crown by 
 the Queen. By these presents he notified to 
 all whom it might or might not concern, 
 that he came not to be what he was through 
 such unworthy means as trade or labour or 
 personal achievements, but by divine right. 
 As a magistrate, he carried his religion to 
 the judicial bench, where he was a terror to 
 evil-doers, particularly when they took the 
 shape of poachers, or refractory labourers, 
 and he pronounced his decisions with so 
 much humour that, however severe, they 
 generally excited laughter, though some 
 averred this was provoked more by his law 
 than his jokes.
 
 SUllPRISED. 155 
 
 Such was the personage who came riding 
 along on a noble bay, followed by a groom, 
 and looking so starched in aspect, and neat 
 in his get-up, that, belying the Prince of 
 Conde's proverb, he might have passed for a 
 hero, even to his valet-de-chambre. 
 
 " Who is that person ?" he asked, stopping 
 his horse as Ealph came up, and glancing 
 towards Letty. 
 
 " She is the daughter of Mr. Rivers," re- 
 plied Ealph, putting on a bold face. 
 
 " Oh ! the man I have served with notice 
 to quit !" 
 
 " No, Rivers of Orchard Farm." 
 
 " It is he I mean. His term is up, and I 
 intend to take the farm myself." 
 
 " I wasn't aware of that." 
 
 " How came you to know his daughter ?" 
 continued Mr. Granby, with a stare. 
 
 " Bradley is paying his addresses to her, 
 and I know the family through him," replied 
 Ralph, telling the truth with reservation. 
 
 " You can know people without putting 
 yourself on a level with them, I suppose, 
 can't you ?"
 
 156 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " Certainly," said Ealph, reddening, " but 
 it seemed a mere act of politeness to assist 
 Miss Eivers over the stile, and I should be 
 ready to do it for any woman." 
 
 " Then I beg you will be less ready in 
 future. The barriers of rank can't be stepped 
 over with impunity, and you must under- 
 stand, and make others understand, that we 
 have a high position to keep up. From this 
 time you will confine your politeness to 
 women of your own station, if 3^ou please." 
 
 With this admonition the Squire pricked his 
 horse, and rode on, leaving Ralph in the road. 
 
 Ealph's first impulse was to follow Letty, 
 and tell her what he had heard respecting 
 the farm, but he reflected that his uncle 
 might be suspicious about his movements, 
 and turn back to see if he was coming on. 
 So he decided to proceed straight to the 
 Hall, by the same road as the Squire. 
 
 It was fortunate that he took this course, 
 for Mr. Granby, as he rode along, began to 
 feel curiosity about Letty. Though enter- 
 taining such contempt for his inferiors, he 
 was prying about their affairs, contriving to
 
 SURPRISED. 157 
 
 hear all the small gossip on the estate ; and 
 he was vexed that he lost the opportunity of 
 scrutinizing Letty, who was to be the future 
 wife of his steward. It occurred to him that, 
 by galloping up a lane, and crossing a field 
 on foot, he might accomplish his object, as 
 he would meet her as she emerged from the 
 coppice at the other side, and he no sooner 
 conceived the design than he proceeded to 
 put it in execution. 
 
 Arrived at the field, he consigned his 
 horse to the groom, and walked towards the 
 spot. The way was through his own land, . 
 and time had been when this would have 
 formed the one thought in his mind, and 
 made him scan every sod. But he was now 
 used to possession, and took it lightly, so 
 that he even passed fine old trees, without 
 measuring their girth with his eye. But 
 the sense of his own grandeur was none the 
 less dominant, and he walked with the step 
 of a king, according to his light, though in 
 point of fact it was that of a snob. Thus 
 he reached the stile, and seeing nothing of 
 Letty, resolved to follow the path, and pass
 
 158 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 her in the coppice. But whatever his ex- 
 pectation of awing Letty, he was not des- 
 tined to accomplish his purpose ; for fate 
 blocked the way. The stile was a Devon- 
 shire one, formed of steps of stone, and as 
 he strode over, thinking more of his dignity 
 than his balance, his foot slipped, and pitched 
 him his length on the ground. The fall so 
 shook his frame that for an instant he was 
 all but insensible. But he resisted the ten- 
 dency, and was slowly lifting himself up, 
 when he perceived Letty close by, not that 
 he raised his eyes, but he caught sight of her 
 dress, and rather knew she was there, than 
 saw. 
 
 " I am afraid yon are hurt, sir," she said. 
 " Can I do anything for you ?" 
 
 Mr. Granby was too mortified at his situ- 
 ation to take notice of this inquiry, and he 
 silently got on his feet. He was about to 
 brush the dust from his clothes, when he 
 found that his hand was covered with blood, 
 from a deep cut round the thumb, which in 
 falling he had struck against a stone, 
 
 " Will you allow me to bind your hand
 
 StTRPUISED. 159 
 
 for you?" said Lettj, as he thus exposed 
 the wound. " Those little pebbles will get 
 into the cut if they are not washed away, 
 and will cause pain." 
 
 Mr. Granby didn't like pain, and the cut 
 already made itself felt ; and, being his right 
 hand, he was unable to wash and bind it 
 himself ; so he nodded his head, and Letty 
 took his hand and bathed it in the brook, 
 removing all the grit. He was surprised to 
 see such taper fingers, and so appreciated 
 her delicate touch, that he was strongly 
 tempted to steal a look at Letty's face. But 
 he refrained, and it was not till Letty pro- 
 duced her handkerchief to tie up the cut 
 that he yielded to the inclination. 
 
 Letty never looked prettier than at that 
 moment. The excitement heightened her 
 bloom, while her eyes, at all times soft and 
 luminous, beamed with sympathy, which the 
 Squire's haughtiness had failed to repress. 
 Though an inveterate woman-hater, his lips 
 unlocked as he recognized her beauty. 
 
 *' I am much obliged for your assistance," 
 he said, condescendingly. " You live in this
 
 160 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 neiglibourliood, I presume ?" It was thus he 
 ignored his knowledge of Letty's existence. 
 
 " Yes, at Orchard Farm," answered Letty. 
 
 " One of my tenants ! The name, I think, 
 is— is— " 
 
 "Eivers," said Letty, thinking his memory 
 was really at fault. 
 
 "Ah, Eivers. And I suppose you are 
 the young person who is engaged to my 
 steward, Bradley ?" 
 
 " No; I am not engaged to Mr. Bradley." 
 
 Letty remembered whom she was really 
 engaged to, and blushed, and what potency 
 was in her blush, has already been shown. 
 It made the Squire forget that he was talk- 
 ing to a " young person," and not a gentle- 
 woman; for though everyone looked upon 
 Mr. Eivers as a gentleman farmer, the farmer 
 class were regarded by Mr. Granby as all on 
 one level. 
 
 " I beg pardon, I possibly misunderstood 
 Bradley," he said; "I hope my mistake has 
 given no offence." 
 
 " Not offence, sir." 
 
 And Letty bent her head and was turning
 
 SURPRISED. 161 
 
 away, when the Squire stepped in front, and 
 presently found himself helping her over the 
 stile almost as readily, if not so gracefully as 
 she had been aided by his nephew. And 
 now that he had seen Letty, and heard her 
 voice, and felt what a power she was, the 
 recollection of that incident awoke a mis- 
 giving in his mind. Might not such a girl 
 be a danger to Ealph ? The discovery that 
 she was not engaged to Bradley made this 
 more probable, as Ealph would soon find 
 out that she was free — perhaps, knew it 
 already, and openness to approach doubled 
 her power of attraction. These thoughts 
 flashed on the Squire with the rapidity of 
 lightning, and with lightning effect ; for he 
 instantly sought to ascertain whether her 
 acquaintance with Ealph was really as slight 
 as Ealph had implied. 
 
 " I think I saw you with my nephew, just 
 now," he said. 
 
 "You probably saw him shew me the 
 same kind attention as yourself," answered 
 Letty, guardedly. 
 
 " Your meeting was accidental, then ?" 
 
 VOL. I. 11
 
 162 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 "Quite," replied Letty, feeling it would 
 be more natural to say " certainly " or ** of 
 course^'' and almost blushing again that she 
 could not with truth speak so decisively. 
 
 She was indeed anxious to terminate the 
 interview, from a fear of saying something 
 that might betray Ealph ; for she saw that 
 circumstances had rendered Mr. Grranby 
 suspicious. But how was she to escape ? 
 There seemed but one way : it was to go at 
 once, and she suddenly glided off. 
 
 This proceeding so astounded Mr. Grranby 
 that he stood motionless. To be treated in 
 this way, by anybody, would have excited 
 his amazement, but to meet such an offender 
 in a daughter of one of his own tenants, a 
 man he had actually served with notice to 
 quit, took away his breath. Nevertheless 
 he walked back to his horse more bewildered 
 than angry.
 
 CHAPTEE XVI. 
 
 VINDICATION. 
 
 On reacliing liome, Letty related her adven- 
 ture with Mr. Granby to her father — of 
 course suppressing his mention of Ealph, 
 and all that thereto pertained. This cur-, 
 tailed recital amused the farmer, but com- 
 ment was prevented by a visit from Alice. 
 The apothecary's daughter stood well with 
 Mrs. Eivers, and she invited her to come to 
 haymaking, which was to take place in a 
 couple of days, and was always celebrated by 
 a tea-party. The Pastor also was bidden, 
 and Mrs. Eivers expected Bradley, whose 
 recent absence proved to be due to his 
 having been sent to inspect the Squire's pro- 
 perty in Staffordshire. 
 
 "And there is the artist," added Mrs. 
 
 11—2
 
 164 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 Elvers, addressing lier husband ; " it is an 
 opportunity of showing him a little attention, 
 in return for Eobin's portrait, and the boy 
 wishes him to be invited ; shall Letty write 
 him a note ?" 
 
 " By all means,'' said Mr Eivers. 
 The note was written, and sent to the 
 post, when Letty walked part of the way 
 home with Alice. They had a great deal to 
 say to each other, and were so bent on com- 
 munication that sometimes they talked both 
 together. Hence much of what they said 
 was lost, but as their object was chiefly to 
 relieve their own minds, this was of little 
 consequence. Gradually tbey approached 
 more delicate ground, and were led to 
 speak of Alice's relations with Isaac Wing- 
 field. 
 
 " I really think you try him too much, 
 Alley," Letty said, "and I know why you 
 do. It is because he is meek and gentle. 
 You wouldn't coquet in this way with a fiery, 
 overbearing suitor." 
 
 " Neither in this way nor any other," 
 answered Alice ; " for I should tell him to
 
 VINDICATION. 165 
 
 take his suit elsewhere. As for Mr. Wing- 
 iield, who can say he is my suitor ?" 
 
 " I can, and I do." 
 
 " He has never said it himself." 
 
 *' Because you so discourage him. You 
 know he loves you, or if you don't, you 
 blind yourself to what is apparent to every- 
 body else : what, indeed, is openly spoken 
 of. I tell you of it. Alley, not only for the 
 Pastor's sake, but because the chapel people 
 say you are not treating him fairly." 
 
 " I should aim at the impossible if I tried 
 to satisfy tliem. But I don't like you to* 
 complain of me, Letty." And Alice put on 
 an aggrieved look. " I only want to know 
 what I am to do." 
 
 " Well, I think you should make up your 
 mind, and let Mr. Wingfield see you have 
 done so." 
 
 " And will you please to tell me how this 
 is to be accomplished, if Mr. Wingfield 
 doesn't choose to make up his own mind ?" 
 
 " It is unfortunate that he is so difiident, 
 but I still say the blame lies with you. You 
 one moment encourage and the next repel.
 
 166 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 Now an honest, sincere admirer, as we know 
 Mr. Wingfield to be, claims from every 
 woman frank treatment. Grive the Pastor 
 an opportunity of speaking plainly, which 
 you can do whenever you like, and then tell 
 him his fate at once." 
 
 Alice was inclined to resent this counsel. 
 
 " Have you been so outspoken with Luke 
 Bradley ?" she said. 
 
 " Since you ask me," replied Letty a little 
 faltering, "I will tell you, and you only, 
 that I have treated Luke Bradley as I urge 
 you to treat the Pastor. And you will 
 think it all over, Alley !" 
 
 Certainly Alice was no longer disposed to 
 be offended; and on parting with Letty, 
 she began seriously to consider the Pastor's 
 claims. Much could be said in his favour, 
 but his cause had to contend with one dis- 
 advantage, and that was, that Alice knew 
 she might be Mrs. Wingfield whenever she 
 pleased. She could not decide to accept the 
 position ; but neither did she regard it as 
 inadmissible, and probably her ultimate 
 decision would depend on accident. Per-
 
 VINDICATION. 167 
 
 haps Harry judged rightly tliat the Pastor's 
 was not a character to strike her fancy. 
 Her affinities would draw her to a nature 
 on which she could lean, and such a feeling 
 was hardly to be inspired by a delicate stu- 
 dent, whose scholarship she did not appreci- 
 ate, or even by the innate resolution and 
 endurance, which, underlying a meek de- 
 meanour, Isaac Wingfield possessed, but did 
 not display. Still, she thought of him as 
 somebody — as a kind, clever man, whom all 
 her acquaintance respected, and whom she 
 liked much herself. 
 
 This reverie was suddenly interrupted by 
 the appearance of Jack Eeeve. 
 
 "Hope you're hearty, Miss Alley/* he 
 said, touching his hat and coming to a 
 stand, which brought Alice to the same 
 position, " you look so, anyway, and I don't 
 think it's from physic, though Doctor Mead's 
 got a lot in his 'spensary, and more than 
 would do anybody good, I expect." 
 
 " More than would kill all the parish," 
 laughed Alice. 
 
 " I shouldn't wonder. He's got strychnine,
 
 168 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 and proosic acid, and all that kind — what 'ud 
 kill bullocks, let alone men, though I be- 
 lieve there's people will get into a way of 
 taking poison as easy as cider. Gin is a 
 sort of poison, and old Jean Lee can drink 
 gin by the bucket. It's all use, you see, 
 missy. Use is second nature. The vicar 
 told me about ladies even takin' down arsenic, 
 but I didn't make out what it was good 
 for.'' 
 
 " They say it gives a bloom to the cheeks," 
 rejoined Alice with a half smile. 
 
 " Does it though ? Well, you'll never 
 want arsenic for your cheeks. Miss Alley, nor 
 more will our Miss Letty at Orchard Farm. 
 It's her I've made free to stop you about, 
 because I wanted to ask you a question if I 
 might be so bold. Not that I'd like her to 
 know, for it would give her the notion she 
 was being talked about, and there's nothing 
 vexes a lady like that." 
 
 Alice knew not what to say to this ad- 
 dress, so she kept silent. 
 
 " No doubt it looks like a bit o' sauce in 
 me," resumed Jack a little daunted, " as if
 
 VINDICATION. ] 69 
 
 I was poking in wliere I'd no concern. But 
 IVe come into it somehow, and I don't ask 
 on account of Miss, but because I'm like to 
 be mixed up with tbe painting gentleman, 
 Mr. Clayton. Now I'll just tell you the 
 particulars." 
 
 Here Jack related how he had found 
 Harry engaged in a struggle with Bradley 
 in the ruin at Berry Pomeroy, and what 
 followed. 
 
 " Now, you see, Miss, I am a labouring 
 man," he continued, " and you'll naturally 
 say what has such like as you to do with it ? 
 which is very good, only Mr. Clayton wants 
 me to do with him, and it turns on this. I 
 must be sure about his character, and if he 
 has been getting Miss to meet him in the 
 woods at night all by herself — " 
 
 " Stop," cried Alice eagerly, " I was with 
 her, and our meeting with Mr. Clayton was 
 an accident. We shouldn't have gone out 
 at all, if we had dreamt of anyone being 
 about." 
 
 "You just clear it all up in a minute," 
 returned Jack, " I see how it was now, and
 
 170 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 it's exact what Mr. Clayton said, only lie 
 was in a temper, and Mr. Bradley had set 
 me up too ; so we didn't come to an agree- 
 ment. But now I won't keep you any 
 longer, Miss Alley." 
 
 " I may tell Miss Letty about their 
 fighting, I suppose ?" said Alice. 
 
 " Ah ! then one thing leads to another, 
 you see, and it will all come out." 
 
 " Very well," laughed Alice, " I will say 
 nothing." 
 
 And she walked away with a friendly nod 
 — for Jack, though but five years older than 
 herself, had in her childhood often carried 
 her in his arms. 
 
 "A lass is like a pitcher of water," 
 thought Jack as he moved in the other 
 direction, " she's always full to the top, and 
 if you tell her anything, it's like dropping a 
 stone in the pitcher, she brims over with it. 
 There's this difference — you can see to the 
 bottom of a pitcher, but I could never see 
 to the bottom even of a lass's eyes." And he 
 murmured aloud — " I wonder if I shall ever 
 get that twenty-five acres at Cockington."
 
 VINDICATION. 171 
 
 And as the words dropped from his lips, 
 Jack cast a glance behind, for a parting 
 glimpse of Alice, before she turned the curve 
 of the road. He was caught in the act ; for 
 Alice, too, at this moment, looked round, and 
 then tripped off, while he pursued his way 
 with a graver brow.
 
 CHAPTEE XYII. 
 
 RALPH TAKES A BOLD STEP. 
 
 It was late in the day when Bradley re- 
 turned from his expedition to Staffordshire. 
 During his absence, Letty was continually 
 in his mind, and all his thoughts were fired 
 by her image. Blended with this, rose the 
 remembrance of her midnight meeting with 
 Harry, and the subsequent struggle be- 
 tween Harry and himself, so nearly fatal to 
 both. Then he fell into a whirl of feeling, 
 making him alternately the prey of jealousy, 
 rage, and remorse. The preference which he 
 conceived Letty to entertain for the artist 
 drove him frantic. At the same time his 
 conscience rebuked the spirit which had 
 raised his hand against Harry's life ; and as 
 religion thus reasserted its sway, he wrestled
 
 RALPH TAKES A BOLD STEP. 173 
 
 with, liis hatred, not to cast it away, but 
 to keep it down. The struggle mingled 
 with his prayers, which were long and vehe- 
 ment, bursting from him on his pillow, when 
 he awoke in the night, and running in his 
 mind through the day. He prayed for suc- 
 cess in his suit, imploring that Letty's heart 
 might be turned to him, that she might love 
 him with the love that Rachel bore Jacob, 
 while he, through grace, should make her 
 comeliness a reason for thankfulness, and 
 even a means to edify, as that of Esther 
 became to Ahasuerus. But, pray when he 
 would, the phantom of his hatred sprang up 
 with his words, as if to prevent their utter- 
 ance ; and though he closed his eyes, and 
 put a strain on his thoughts, he never wholly 
 shut it out. 
 
 The morning after his return, he heard a 
 rumour of the Squire's design of taking up 
 the Orchard farm, and this gave his thoughts 
 a new direction. He was to see Mr. Grranby 
 at ten o'clock, and meanwhile he had to 
 prepare his accounts for inspection, so that 
 time did not permit of an early visit to the
 
 174 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 farm, whence he had an opportunity of first 
 considering how all parties would be affected 
 by the event. He was aware that Mr. 
 Rivers had invested his whole means in the 
 farm : consequently, that the abrupt termi- 
 nation of his tenure was not only a piece of 
 injustice, but would involve him in serious, 
 if not ruinous loss ; and he debated within 
 himself whether he should take any step for 
 his benefit. There seemed to be various 
 reasons why he should not interfere. In 
 the first place, he could exercise no influence 
 on Mr. Grranby, who never considered or 
 consulted anybody, simply doing what suited 
 himself; secondly, he might endanger his 
 own succession to the Beech farm, if he 
 diverted Mr. Grranby from appropriating 
 that of Mr. Rivers ; and, thirdly, he con- 
 ceived the idea that a reverse of fortune 
 might at last dispose Mr. Rivers to press his 
 suit on Letty, and even sway Letty herself 
 Hence he decided to stand by and watch, or 
 only act under the direction of circum- 
 stances and prayer. 
 
 Bradley found Mr. Granby in the library.
 
 RALPH TAKES A BOLD STEP. 175 
 
 his invariable resort in the morning, for 
 though he was no reader, the Squire consi- 
 dered an odour of literature to be a part of 
 his dignity ; and besides sitting in the midst 
 of immortal works, regularly took from the 
 shelves a couple of erudite volumes, and 
 placed them open on his table. Thus he 
 was supposed to have a fine literary taste, 
 though he passed the time in writing his 
 letters, reading the newspapers, and grant- 
 ing audiences. The Staffordshire business 
 was soon transacted, and Bradley, referring 
 to some arrangements on the Hall property, 
 expected that Mr. Grranby would bring up* 
 the subject of his notice to Mr. Rivers. But 
 the Squire allowed him to come to an end 
 without speaking. 
 
 " When are you to be married ?" he then 
 said, abruptly. 
 
 " I don't know when it will be, Mr. 
 Granby," replied the steward— he never 
 addressed anyone as sir. " The ordering of 
 these things is not with us, and well that it 
 isn't, for marriage would be but another 
 word for misery, if all were left to their 
 own fancies."
 
 176 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 The remark afforded Mr. Granby an open- 
 ing for ascertaining whether Ralph had been 
 perfectly candid in mentioning Letty as 
 Bradley's choice, which, as Letty repudiated 
 any engagement, Ralph might, he thought, 
 have stated to avert suspicion from himself. 
 
 " Very true," he said, " but people do 
 follow their fancies in marriage, notwith- 
 standing — that is, to a great extent, and 
 Providence would seem to allow a certain 
 latitude in the matter. I don't want to 
 enter into an argument on the subject," 
 Mr. Granby always considered discussion 
 beneath his dignity, and, perhaps, felt that 
 he hadn't much to say. " I state my 
 opinion, and there can be no doubt as to 
 what is your fancy — a serious, 'thrifty wo- 
 man, drawing towards your own age, I 
 should say, and one who will look after 
 your dairy as well as your house ; a very 
 proper choice, if you must marry, and if 
 any woman can be thought an acquisition." 
 
 "We can't judge for one another in 
 marriage, Mr. Granby," returned Bradley. 
 " There is a saying that marriages are made
 
 RALPH TAKES A BOLD STEP. 177 
 
 in heaven, and doubtless we are guided, if 
 we open our understanding to it — only some 
 prefer their own wilful course. My choice 
 is from a call here." And he touched his 
 breast. 
 
 " I have simply stated my opinion," re- 
 joined Mr. Grranby, annoyed that Bradley 
 mentioned no name. 
 
 And he opened a ponderous volume on 
 the table, which Bradley knew was a signal 
 for him to depart. So the steward went 
 away without anything being said of the 
 notice to Mr. Rivers. 
 
 He walked moodily into the hall, where 
 portraits of the Granbys, from the reign of 
 the Eighth Henry, and in every guise of 
 camp and court, looked down upon him 
 from the walls, and here came suddenly on 
 Ralph, who was, in truth, waiting for his 
 appearance. 
 
 " Has my uncle said anything to you 
 about Orchard farm ?" he said to Bradley. 
 " He told me he had served Mr. Rivers with 
 notice to quit." 
 
 " That is strange enough," said Bradley ; 
 
 VOL. I. 12
 
 178 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " he doesn't often talk to you about the pro- 
 perty, Mr. Ralph. Now he has told you 
 more than he has me." 
 
 " There is no making him out, you know. 
 I was in hope that he and you would go 
 into it, and that you would be able to speak 
 up for Rivers, who is being very harshly 
 treated. He was on the estate when we 
 came here, nearly seven years ago, and ever 
 since that time he has made the farm quite 
 dijSerent from what it was, and people say 
 it was a wilderness before. Why don't you 
 remind my uncle of this ?" 
 
 " Why don t you, Mr. Ralph ? You are 
 his kin, and the estate is to come to you, 
 and you' seem to bear a kindness to the man 
 with whoipQ you have broken bread. Why 
 don't you plead these things, I say ?" 
 
 As he spoke, they saw the Squire coming 
 into the hall. 
 
 " By Jove, I will !" Ralph exclaimed, 
 " and at once, too, or I may lose heart 
 about it." 
 
 And he walked forward to meet his uncle, 
 while the astonished Bradley made his way 
 out by a further door.
 
 RALPH TAKES A BOLD STEP. 179 
 
 "Bradley and I have been talking of 
 Orchard farm," Ralph said, coming tip with 
 the Squire, who, feeling all the Granbys 
 were on the walls, so elevated his chin, that 
 he scarcely saw the living specimen. " May 
 I ask if you have quite decided about taking 
 it from Mr. Rivers ?" 
 
 " Why do you wish to know ?" demanded 
 the Squire, majestically, without looking 
 down from his height. 
 
 " Well, Bradley said you hadn't spoken of 
 it to him, and perhaps you may be recon- 
 sidering the thing." 
 
 " I am reconsidering it." 
 
 "Then I have no more to say." 
 
 " What had you to say before ? — what 
 could you have to say ?" 
 
 " Nothing but what I think you would 
 like to be reminded of — that Mr. Rivers is 
 one of the old tenants, and has laid out a 
 large sum in improvements." 
 
 " He laid it out for his own profit, I pre- 
 sume, and because he thought it a good in- 
 vestment, not to benefit me. As for his 
 being an old tenant, that is a reason for get- 
 
 12—2
 
 180 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 ting rid of him. These old tenants fancy 
 the land is as much theirs as their land- 
 lord's. However, I am, as I said, thinking 
 my plans over again, and possibly I may 
 leave Orchard farm where it is." 
 
 Ralph judged it prudent to be satisfied 
 with this answer, and made no reply. 
 
 " By-the-way," continued the Squire, " it 
 is time you took another turn on the Conti- 
 nent. You ought to be climbing the Swiss 
 mountains again instead of idling about 
 here. In this morning's paper there is an 
 account of a man going up the Matterhorn, 
 and breaking his neck. Why the deuce 
 shouldn't you go up the Matterhorn ?" 
 
 "I can break my neck at home if you 
 think it desirable," rejoined Ralph, jocularly. 
 
 " It is desirable you should do the Alps, 
 or what is the use of belonging to their 
 club ?"' returned the Squire. " We will dine 
 an hour earlier this evening, so that you 
 may go up to town by the mail, and to- 
 morrow night you can write to me from 
 Paris. Another twenty-four hours will take 
 jou to Gleneva."
 
 RALPH TAKES A BOLD STEP. 181 
 
 "But there is no need for such violent 
 dispatch as this," cried Ralph, aghast : he 
 thought of the impossibility of saying fare- 
 well to Letty. 
 
 " What do you call dispatch ? A young 
 fellow should be ready to start to the world's 
 end at a moment's notice, and. you have only 
 to tell Bartram to pack up your traps and 
 be off." 
 
 "I don't say there would be any diifi- 
 culty about being ready, but I have arranged 
 with Sir Charles Raven to go to the meet 
 to-morrow, and I can't well get out of it. 
 I can start to-morrow night." 
 
 " You must go to-night. We will ride 
 round to Sir Charles Raven this afternoon, 
 and make an excuse about the meet, and 
 you can settle your other matters with Bar- 
 tram. I will order the waggonette at nine, 
 to take you to the station." 
 
 The Squire spoke so decisively that Ralph 
 knew it would be useless to object further, 
 and he turned away in silence.
 
 CHAPTEE XVIII. 
 
 THE HAYMAKERS. 
 
 While Ealph. found himself pledged to a 
 Swiss tour, Letty was being exposed to cir- 
 cumstances which might become dangers, 
 and which kept their engagement under a 
 constant strain. Even in quiet Chesney 
 her beauty had become a power, which in 
 one moment bursting on everyone, made her 
 a centre of attraction. Her smile, her pretty 
 frown, her beaming glance, and her arch 
 gesture, all her play of feature and look, 
 were not only unstudied, but obviously un- 
 conscious. They were a mine within, which 
 was sprung from outside ; others uttering the 
 word which gave the kindling spark. And the 
 effect lost nothing from her having recently
 
 THE HAYMAKERS. 183 
 
 become steadier — for perhaps it would be too 
 much to say staider. Events were carrying 
 her nature through a transition ; and as the 
 family trouble, arising from the impending 
 loss of the farm, drew her nearer and closer 
 to her father, she reproached herself for 
 keeping him in ignorance of her engage- 
 ment. But her word was pledged to Ealph, 
 and she could not forget that without her 
 seeking it, he had entered into a full ex* 
 planation of his position, showing but too 
 good reasons for secrecy. But might he 
 
 not make the same statement to her father ? 
 
 • 
 
 or at least say something which would re- 
 lieve her from practising what she regarded 
 as deception? At least she would tell 
 Ealph her scruples, and appeal to him to 
 go as far as he thought fit, or if he could 
 take no steps, at least to discontinue their 
 meetings. Indeed, she had a dread that 
 these would be discovered by her step- 
 mother, and that both Ealph and herself 
 would thus be forestalled in any disclosure 
 to her father. 
 
 But her step-mother made no movement,
 
 184 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 neither questioning her about Ealph, nor 
 urging the claims of Bradley ; nor, on the 
 other hand, did she mention Ealph's atten- 
 tions to her husband, though Letty had 
 passed the appointed days of grace. In fact 
 Mrs. Eivers was, for the moment, in a lull 
 of predestination, waiting on events. And 
 so the time wore on till the haymaking, 
 when the afternoon brought to the farm a 
 troop of friends, and all went out in the 
 meadow. It was a scorching day, but 
 two sister elms, whose luxuriant boughs 
 nearly joined, afforded a shelter for the 
 elders, and the younger guests braved the 
 sun in the open, tossing up the hay, or 
 throwing it over each other, and chasing 
 each other round the heaps. Bradley 
 scowled to see Harry Clayton in the com- 
 pany. To himself the whole scene, and, 
 indeed every kind of diversion, bordered on 
 sin, and with difficulty he refrained from 
 delivering this testimony. But he kept it 
 down, and the more resignedly, because, on 
 making his way to the family, he found 
 Letty standing quietly with her father.
 
 THE HATMAKEHS. 185 
 
 *' We liave missed you," Mr. Elvers said 
 to him, as they shook hands, " but you are 
 back in time to see us making hay while 
 the sun shines. No doubt you have heard 
 I am to give up the farm ?" 
 
 " I have heard it, but not from Mr. 
 Granby," replied the steward ; " though 
 strange enough, he told it to Mr. Ealph ; 
 and as the young man spoke kindly to me 
 about you, I urged him to appeal against 
 the wrong." 
 
 Letty had turned away her head, only 
 answering Bradley's greeting with a nod, 
 but she now looked round. 
 
 " I am sorry you did that, though I know 
 it was well meant," rejoined Mr. Eivers. 
 " I had rather suffer the wrong than make 
 an appeal." 
 
 "And I don't say but you are rightly 
 directed," returned Bradley. "But what 
 might not be said by yourself, another 
 might plead for you; and, you see, Mr. 
 Granby gave me no opportunity. Moreover, 
 I spoke to Mr. Ealph without thought, like 
 one wild, and knowing not what to do, or
 
 186 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 in my sober mind, I had remembered tbat 
 this was a business in which his interference 
 would rather bring wrath on himself than 
 profit to you." 
 
 " He recollected it, no doubt." 
 
 " Nay, he raised no such objection, but 
 went straight to his uncle, and reasoned 
 with him for you," replied Bradley. 
 
 Letty again looked away, but now her 
 face was flushed. 
 
 " That was generous," cried the farmer, 
 cheerily. " I like the lad, and rejoice to see 
 such a spirit in him, though I know it can 
 do me no service." 
 
 " I took the same view," rejoined Brad- 
 ley, " but I stand rebuked. It wasn't the 
 blowing of horns that threw down the walls 
 of Jericho, nor was it the washing in Jor- 
 dan that healed Naaman. These things 
 were a medium, not the means, and all our 
 acts are overruled in Hke manner. So it 
 may be that Mr. Ealph's speaking will do 
 more good than we surmise, for I saw him 
 afterwasrds, and he told me that Mr. Granby 
 was thinking the matter over again."
 
 THE HATMAKEES. 187 
 
 "That looks better, certainly," said Mr. 
 Elvers. " And I wouldn't seem unmindful 
 that all is overruled from above. You see 
 this in a different way from myself, but we 
 have the same mind about it in the main. 
 I must go and tell your news to my wife." 
 
 And he went off, leaving Bradley with 
 Letty. 
 
 " You haven't spoken to me yet, Letty," 
 said Bradley. "You parted from me at 
 variance, and you meet me without saluta- 
 tion." 
 
 " Because I don't want to be always quar- 
 relling," answered Letty, in a half concilia- 
 tory way. 
 
 " And do I ? I who have made an idol 
 of you." 
 
 " That is what I complain of." 
 
 " The name is not a meet one," rejoined 
 Bradley, meekly, " but I used it spiritually, 
 as signifying I saw no fault in you. If I 
 had the world -talk of yonder man," and he 
 glanced over at the artist, " I could doubt- 
 less find a better word. But I won't bring 
 up bygones. Let us be friends."
 
 188 DOWN IN DEVON*. 
 
 " I told you at Berry Pomeroy I wished 
 to be so." 
 
 " And are you nothing more than friend 
 to him ?'' And again Bradley made a ges- 
 ture towards Harry. 
 
 " I might resent your question," said 
 Letty, raising her soft eyes, " but though it 
 is one you have no right to ask, I won't lie 
 under the imputation ; so I tell you Mr. 
 Clayton is nothing to me but a pleasant 
 acquaintance.'' 
 
 " But he has sought to be ?" 
 
 " Never ! either by word or look." 
 
 " I must believe you, even against my 
 own senses." 
 
 " I am indifferent about that," said Letty, 
 turning away. 
 
 She spoke of Harry as she really felt, 
 never suspecting the impression she had 
 made upon him. For the artist, as has been 
 shown, had begun to link her with his 
 dreams of the future, his encounter with 
 Bradley having stamped her in his own imagi- 
 nation, and brought her to appear within his 
 reach. But his aspirations soared towards a
 
 THE HAYMAKERS. 189 
 
 prize of a different kind, his personal aggran- 
 disement, and lie was being turned by ber 
 into a path which led away from the objects 
 of his ambition, and which might render 
 these unattainable. Euraour gave Letty no 
 dower but her beauty, and this, real as it 
 was, would not compensate for the sacrifices 
 he must make to win it. But was he to 
 allow her to be carried off by another, that 
 other not Bradley (him he put aside), but 
 Ealph Glranby. For Ealph's attendance at 
 Berry-Pomeroy, and particularly his re-ap- 
 pearance on the following morning, could, 
 he thought, only be explained by the attrac- 
 tion of Letty. Harry had an impression that 
 he could still bear Letty off from Ealph, in 
 spite of Ealph's advantages of fortune. He 
 wanted to do this, however, without binding 
 himself; he wished to impress Letty — even 
 to win her love, yet keep her in doubt 
 whether her love was returned. Then he 
 might declare himself or not, as, in the end 
 he should be led by his interests. 
 
 Eather to his mortification, Letty did not 
 show herself so eager to be captivated. It is
 
 190 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 true that on his arrival she met him with 
 her usual friendliness, but from that moment 
 she kept out of his way. For though she 
 defended him to Ealph, and claimed the 
 right to maintain their intimacy, she de- 
 termined that Ealph should have no reason 
 to complain on this point in future. The 
 iteration of the same complaint by Bradley, 
 however, she thought too provoking, and for- 
 getting her good resolution, she showed her 
 resentment by going straight to the spot 
 where Harry stood. 
 
 Harry was assisting to collect a heap, 
 when Alice, who was in his party, threw a 
 dowse of hay in his face, while another lass 
 piled a stack on his head. He whisked 
 round half smothered, but before he could 
 move, the laughing girls ran into the next 
 field. Thus Letty came upon him when he 
 was alone, and though she turned as she saw 
 this, it was too late to escape. 
 
 " You have just arrived in time," Harry 
 cried, "for if you didn't bar the way, I 
 should certainly wreak some vengeance on 
 those elves."
 
 THE HAYMAKERS. 191 
 
 " I can stand aside," replied Letty, step- 
 ping out of the gateway ; "for elves are said 
 to be able to take their own part, though 
 I don't know how it would be by daylight." 
 
 " There is no doubt of their being able to 
 take their own part, whether by daylight or 
 candlelight, though I believe candlelight is 
 the most dangerous time." 
 
 " How can you speak of candles — you 
 who so study the picturesque ; I should 
 have expected you to say moonlight, at least." 
 
 " Not for such elves as these, or even 
 daughters of Eve in general. Some of you, 
 indeed, are enchanting in all lights," and 
 Harry's look intimated that Letty herself 
 stood high in this order. " But the witch- 
 ing light for woman is the candle's." 
 
 " What a conclusion !" exclaimed Letty. 
 
 " It isn't much to the ear, I admit, but it 
 answers to the eye. Artificial light lends 
 just the degree of radiance that shades de- 
 fects and illumines bloom, so that the deli- 
 cate skin refines into something spiritual, 
 while the more floating style of dress, under 
 the same influences, idealizes the form."
 
 192 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 "Now you reconcile me to candles," 
 laughed Letty, " and," she added, as Alice 
 glided up, " in return I shall try to recon- 
 cile you to Alley." 
 
 " I am content," answered Harry, " and 
 declare for peace." 
 
 " And I for content and peace too," said 
 Alice. 
 
 " Content and peace — we will all declare 
 for them !" murmured Letty. 
 
 " But where are they to be found ?" ex- 
 claimed Harry ; " not in the palace, not in 
 the hovel, neither in the packed town, nor 
 such a spot as this. None of us are content, 
 and nobody is ever at peace." 
 
 The two girls were silent, as if they both 
 admitted the assertion. 
 
 They were walking across the field to- 
 wards the other gate, where a waggon, en- 
 tering from the high road, had just arrived. 
 The mown grass was smooth as velvet, and 
 they met the scent of the hay, that sweetest 
 of perfumes. The rich yield lay about in 
 heaps, its golden hue contrasting with the 
 emerald turf, which again lent a foil to the
 
 THE HAYMAKERS. 193 
 
 deeper green of the trees, and to hedges 
 garlanded with blossom. The neighbouring 
 coppice was alive with songsters, the black- 
 bird, thrush, and linnet, and their notes 
 blended with the voice of young girls, who, 
 strolling about, or throwing up the hay at 
 the heaps, displayed in their varied move- 
 ments every grace of form. But it now be- 
 came evident that the waggon-party had 
 met with a casualty, and presently one of the 
 men was seen assisting another across the 
 road, where they both disappeared in a cot- 
 tage. 
 
 "What can they have gone into Betty 
 Kedge's for?" said Letty. 
 
 " Who is Betty Kedge ?" asked Harry. 
 
 " The Wise Woman !" answered Letty. 
 
 "What a designation. What a conjunc- 
 tion — wisdom and woman ! It is like 
 joining frost and sunshine : one mars the 
 other." 
 
 " That is false doctrine," said Letty, " for 
 the ancients made Wisdom a goddess ?" 
 
 " But they were heathens. And, besides, 
 a goddess isn't a womau." 
 
 VOL. I. 13
 
 194 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " Very true, but there are polite people 
 who have called woman a goddess," observed 
 Alice. 
 
 " Very well put in, Alley !" cried Letty, 
 gaily, " only we must admit they haven't said 
 of wisdom.'" She added, " I shall run over to 
 Betty Kedge's, and see what is the matter." 
 
 She was tripping off alone, but Harry 
 followed, and they entered the cottage 
 together. Meanwhile, Alice came to the 
 waggon, and was walking round, when she 
 suddenly confronted Jack Eeeve, who, it 
 now appeared, was in charge of the team. 
 
 " Oh, is it you, Jack 1" Alice cried. " I 
 am afraid there has been an accident." 
 
 "There's worse happens at sea. Miss 
 Alley," answered Jack. " It's only Jem 
 Stone, who fell down with heat, and Balders 
 has took him over to old Bet, for she looked 
 at him as we came in the field, and they 
 think she's bewitched him." 
 
 " Perhaps she has, the wicked thing !" 
 exclaimed Alice, who detested Bet. 
 
 " Not a bit of it. Miss ! The day's gone 
 by for old Bet to bewitch, you may depend.
 
 THE HAYMAKERS. 195 
 
 If it had been you, now, who looked, or 
 Miss Letty, you might bewitch Jem, or any 
 other man, and nobody 'ud object." 
 
 " That is one of your fine speeches, Jack, 
 which I hear you are famous for." 
 
 " Then some one has been talking to you 
 against my character. Missy ?" 
 
 "Yes. I was told you would persuade us 
 that we were made all of sugar, if we would 
 believe you." 
 
 " I believe it myself, sometimes," observed 
 Jack, with a look that intimated the present 
 was an occasion in point. 
 
 " I am afraid we should be eaten if it was 
 true," smiled Alice, "and we might even 
 take to eating one another." 
 
 " There's where it is, Missy ; you go 
 against your own selves : beggiug pardon 
 for my being plain spoken, and, of course, 
 excepting present company." 
 
 " That won't do. T know you mean all 
 of us." 
 
 " Not present company. Miss Alley \ only 
 I never praise to the face." 
 
 "A very wholesome rule, John," cried 
 
 13—2
 
 196 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 Mr. Wingfield, coming up; "and I quite 
 agree with you about it." 
 
 " You are sure not to agree with me," 
 smiled Alice, to put him to torture. 
 
 " That is giving me a bad name, indeed," 
 cried the Pastor. " Is there an3^bodj who 
 can't agree with you ?" 
 
 " They must be particular quarrelsome if 
 there is, Minister," remarked Jack, "and 
 that isn't your description." 
 
 "' I don't say we ever quarrel," observed 
 Alice, sweetly. " It is only that I and Mr. 
 Wingfield are not always of the same way 
 of thinking." 
 
 " Naturally the Minister has his own no- 
 tions. Missy," remarked Jack, coming to 
 the Pastor's rescue ; " audit's just as natural 
 yours 'ud be different, and there's a deal to 
 be said on both sides. But I'll be bound 
 Minister is beat before the talk's over ; and 
 if he's anything like me (and we're all the 
 same stuff at bottom) he'd sooner lose than 
 wm. 
 
 " You speak better for me than I could 
 for myself, John," said Mr. "Wingfield with
 
 THE HAYMAKERS. 197 
 
 a beaming look. "And here come our 
 friends. What have they been doing in 
 the cottage ?" 
 
 The explanation claims a new chapter.
 
 CHAPTEE XIX. 
 
 THE WISE WOMAN. 
 
 Betty Kedge's cottage was one of those 
 thatched, whitewashed structures, so nume- 
 rous in rural districts, which, from their 
 wigwam roofs, appear to have been erected 
 when the people of England were in the stage 
 of development now occupied by the North 
 American Indians. Such habitations were 
 probably suited to that time, but they are a 
 little too primitive for the present day, when 
 we are beginning to appreciate ventilation, 
 cleanliness, and domestic order. Not that 
 this reason weighed with Mr. Glranby in 
 allowing the wigwams on his property to 
 tumble to pieces. His object was less to 
 get rid of the tenements than their tenants,
 
 THE WISE WOMAN. 199 
 
 and thus keep down liis poor rate — a result 
 he had not yet accomplished, as the pea- 
 santry, in spite of rent roofs, fallen rafters, 
 and blocked windows, held on to dwellings 
 which were near their work, and in which 
 they had been born and reared. 
 
 Betty's cottage consisted of two rooms : 
 one facing the road, and one in the rear, 
 though only the front chamber was habit- 
 able. Betty herself had seen her best days. 
 She was close on the boundary of fourscore, 
 and needed a broomstick to prop her up, her 
 once tall form being as bowed as the walls 
 of the cottage. Nor did this end the re- 
 semblance, for cottage and tenant wore the , 
 same crust of dirt, which might, indeed, be 
 traced over the furniture, consisting of a 
 single chair, a table — supporting an old tea- 
 board — a truckle bed, a warming pan, and 
 some cob webbed bottles and some crockery on 
 shelf. This accommodation Betty shared 
 with two cats, which generally sat on the 
 foot of the bed, in a manner suggestive of 
 rational — not to say spiritual — beings. 
 
 The entrance of Balders, with the all but
 
 200 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 insensible Jem Stone no way discomposed 
 the family party. 
 
 ** Who's you men?" demanded Betty, 
 " and what ails this 'un. Why, it be young 
 Jem Stone, baint 'im ?" 
 
 Young Jem, the father of thirteen younger 
 Jems and Pollys, screwed his eyes with a 
 suppressed shiver. 
 
 " Yes, it's Jem," answered Balders dolo- 
 rously. 
 
 " I mind 'im," rejoined Betty. " I was 
 at his grandmother's christnin', more nor 
 seventy year agone, when I was 'bout ten 
 year old. A clever woman she were, and 
 married three times over ; and Jem's father 
 was by first marriage. What's the matter 
 wi' yer, Jem ?" 
 
 "You looked at he, and it's bewitched 
 'im," explained the candid Balders. 
 
 " Then I'll undo't." 
 
 And the old woman swung her stick 
 thrice over Jem's head, whereupon he opened 
 his eyes. 
 
 " You'll want a drop o' cordial now," con- 
 tinued Bet. " How much money yer got ?"
 
 THE WISE WOMAN. 201 
 
 The father of thirteen Jems and Pollys 
 dropped his head on his breast. Alas ! 
 money he had none. 
 
 " Here be twopence/' said Balders, pro- 
 ducing some money from his own pocket. 
 
 Bet secured the pelf, and then took down 
 one of the cobwebbed bottles, and poured 
 some of its contents into a wineglass without 
 a stem. She presented the draught to Jem, 
 who drank it off, and instantly revived. 
 
 " There, he's on's legs again, and will take 
 no harm now," said Bet : " so you may go 
 your ways, but go out at back, or youll cross 
 the charm." 
 
 As the men retreated through the back- 
 doors. Bet heard steps at the front, and, 
 turning, beheld Letty, who was closely fol- 
 lowed by Harry. 
 
 " Why, you's Miss Eivers !" the old 
 woman cried, raising her dimmed eyes. 
 " How's you all at the farm, deary ? It's 
 bonny you look yourself, and you'll be bon- 
 nier yet, and won't be long before you make 
 the bells ring. I see many a pretty lass in 
 my day, I tell yer, but none to hold a candle 
 to thee."
 
 202 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " You are always trying to make me vain, 
 Betty," Letty answered. " But how is the 
 rheumatism ? I told our Mary Elizabeth to 
 bring you up one of my chickens this morn- 
 ing. Have you had it ?" 
 
 " 'Not yet deary, but it's sure to come, if 
 it's your order." Here Betty's eye fell on 
 Harry. " Ah, you've got your young gen- 
 tleman already !" she continued. " I told 
 'ee so." She strained her gaze at Harry, 
 when the expression of her face altered — 
 " Why it's Squire's nephew !" she exclaimed. 
 
 "No, no !" said Letty, amused at such a 
 recognition of the likeness. 
 
 " Don't tell me !" cried Betty, fiercely ; 
 ** I say he be. I know 'im ; I'd know the 
 cursed Granby face 'mong a thousand. Yes; 
 the Squire were goin' to send I to prison, 
 only I were too old, curse he ! And what's 
 a farmer's daughter to do wi' Squire-folk, 
 even if yer gentlefolk yoursels. Better take 
 a sarpent to your bosom than this 'un !" 
 
 " What do you know about it, you old 
 impostor ?" said Harry, provoked. " Do 
 you think you can palm your jugglery on
 
 THE WISE WOMAN. 203 
 
 educated people ?" And he added to Letty, 
 " Don't stop here any longer. The two men 
 have gone off, you see." 
 
 " So much the better," replied Letty. 
 "I am not going till I have spoken my 
 mind. And I want you to understand, 
 Betty, that you have made me very angry, 
 and that I won't have you talk in such a 
 way to me." 
 
 " Ise talk to please myself, whether it 
 please thee or don't ; and I tell 'ee yer '11 
 rue the day you has to do wi' a Grranby. 
 You may match, but you won't mate, mark 
 that ! ay, I'll say't again, for all your frown- 
 in' — marh that ! You may redden ! You'll 
 have more call when my words come true." 
 
 " They will never come true, woman !" 
 exclaimed Letty, turning away. 
 
 "You vicious old cat!" cried Harry, 
 facing the witch. " You ought to be gagged 
 if you are too old for a prison." And he 
 followed Letty, banging the door behind. 
 
 Bet was close at his heels, and pulled the 
 door open again, when her two cats, startled 
 by the noise, flew after her, one springing
 
 204 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 on her shoulder, while the other screwed up 
 its back at her feet. 
 
 " YouVe got warning," Bet shrieked out 
 to Lett J. " I know you won't heed it, 
 but Ise gived it you, and you may do as 'ee 
 will."
 
 CHAPTEE XX. 
 
 GONE ! 
 
 Bet might have prolonged her tirade, but 
 was disturbed by the appearance of Mr. 
 Grranby and Ealph coming down the road 
 on horseback. This double apparition, em- 
 bracing the two persons she had been anathe- 
 matising, undeceived her as to the identity 
 of Harry, while it impressed her with that 
 terror of evil-doers, the magistrate ; and she 
 not only stopped her shriek, but slunk back 
 in the cottage. 
 
 Letty and Harry did not perceive the 
 horsemen till they were quite close. Then, 
 seeing Ealph was accompanied by his uncle, 
 Letty instantly looked away, but not with- 
 out discovering that her lover was dis- 
 pleased, which she knew arose from his again
 
 206 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 finding lier partnered with Harry. She felt 
 vexed with herself that it happened so. She 
 had not intended to be alone with Harry, 
 and, indeed, sought, as has been shown, to 
 avoid such a result. But we know not where 
 our foot will alight when we step out of the 
 beaten way, and she exposed herself to risk 
 directly she ventured in Harry's path. 
 
 Her proceedings had been closely watched 
 by Luke Bradley, who, though he kept at a 
 distance, never lost sight of her, except for 
 the moment that she disappeared in the cot- 
 tage, and he thus gradually worked round to 
 the waggon. His approach drove away 
 Alice, who drew the Pastor in her steps, and 
 Bradley found Jack Eeeve alone. 
 
 *' What have they gone in the cottage 
 for ?" he demanded. " They can want no- 
 thing from that mother of mischief." 
 
 " Well, old Bet has some good in her, 
 master, though it's hard to get at it," ob- 
 served Jack. " She's clever at doctorin', and 
 such like ; and there's Jem Stone been struck 
 down with heat, so Balders has took him 
 into her, and Miss and the young gentle-
 
 GONE ! 207 
 
 man's followed. I can tell yon something 
 more about them, too, and it's only right 
 you should know it." 
 
 " Something you have found out ?" 
 
 " Yes, about their meeting that night. 
 You were all out in your notion, and both of 
 us misjudged the young gentleman. It was 
 quite a chance he met Miss, and they didn't 
 go in the wood at all, but he just walked 
 with her and Miss Mead down to the mill." 
 
 " I saw all tbat, but who told you they 
 met by chance ?" 
 
 " One who knew, Master. I never let out 
 people's names. But it's as true as you 
 stand there, you may depend." 
 
 Bradley was not indisposed to believe 
 what confirmed Letty's statement, though 
 it did not entirely root out his jealousy of 
 Hurry, and he walked to a spot where he 
 might gain further evidence, by surrep- 
 titiously noting Letty's demeanour towards 
 the artist, as they came out of the cottage. 
 The first to appear were Balders and Jem 
 Stone, who, emerging from the rear of the 
 tenement, crossed over to Jack, when they
 
 208 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 all moved off with the waggon, and Bradley- 
 was now left to witness alone Bet's wild 
 violence to Letty. 
 
 It was an unfavourable moment for ascer- 
 taining Letty 's feelings from her manner, 
 not only because of her collision with Bet, 
 but on account of the agitation she pre- 
 sently suffered at the appearance of Ealph ; 
 and Bradley was turning away, when a gap 
 in the hedge exposed him to Mr. Grranby. 
 The Squire pulled up, and beckoned him 
 into the road. 
 
 "Is that Mr. Eivers's daughter?" he 
 asked, glancing in the direction of Letty. 
 
 " Yes, Mr. Grranby/' replied the steward. 
 
 "And who is that young man walking 
 with her ?" pursued the Squire, struck by 
 Harry's resemblance to Ealph. " I don't 
 remember him in this neighbourhood." 
 
 " He is a stranger, from London." 
 
 " Have you heard his name ?" 
 
 "I think it is Clayton." 
 
 Mr. Grranby 's brow darkened. " What is 
 he doing here ?" he said, bending down as 
 he spoke.
 
 GONE ! 209 
 
 " No good, I doubt/' replied Bradley. 
 " He says he is sketching the country, as an 
 artist." 
 
 " And he stays at Orchard Farm, does he ?" 
 
 " No ; he is lodging up at Berry Pomeroy. 
 They know nothing of him here except as a 
 chance acquaintance.'* 
 
 "Chance!" muttered Mr. Grranby, "people 
 don't come into these solitudes by chance. 
 Keep your eye upon him, for I don't like his 
 appearance." 
 
 This dialogue was heard by Ealph, who 
 drew up at the same time as Mr. Grranby,, 
 and though he felt no surprise that his 
 uncle should enquire about Letty, consider- 
 ing the Squire might wish to ascertain 
 whether she was really the person he had 
 represented her to be, and who was expected 
 to become the Steward's wife, he could 
 imagine no reason for the interest he evinced 
 in the artist. As they rode home Ealph 
 had ample time to revolve the point ; for the 
 Squire kept at almost a walking pace, and 
 spoke not a word. And Ealph worked him- 
 self into a greater passion with Letty, because 
 
 VOL. I. 14
 
 210 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 his uncle seemed to be fhrown into this 
 mood by Harry. This made Harry appear 
 more of a rival, more important, and even 
 more dangerous, for it cast over bim an air 
 of mystery. Ealpb was deeply wounded 
 that Letty should give him so much coun- 
 tenance, appearing, he was ready to think, 
 constantly in the artist's company. So he 
 resolved to go away without bidding her 
 good-bye. It is true, this was a sort of ne- 
 cessity; for his uncle determined to keep him 
 in sight till the moment arrived for his de- 
 parture, but, if he had made an effort, one 
 opportunity did present itself. He suffered 
 it to pass, and neither Mr. Granby nor for- 
 tune afforded him another. Dinner was 
 finisbed ; he heard the waggonette drive up 
 to the door, and the few remaining moments 
 Mr. Granby appropriated. 
 
 " You won't make any stay in London ?" 
 he said, interrogatively, but in the manner 
 of an admonition. Ealph replied as ex- 
 pected. 
 
 " And you will write to me from Paris ?" 
 pursued Mr. Granby.
 
 gone! 211 
 
 " Certainly," answered Ealph. 
 
 " And, of course, from Switzerland !" 
 
 Again Ealph assented. 
 
 " You can take your time about it," Mr, 
 Granby continued. " Indeed, you can stop 
 a week or two in Paris, if you like, and go 
 on to the mountains quietly. Only let me 
 know your movements." 
 
 " You shall receive a full report." 
 
 " Don't attempt too much. Of course I 
 was joking about the Matterhorn, but you 
 have done Mont Blanc once, so you can do it 
 again." 
 
 "It isn't such an easy feat," returned 
 Ealph, beginning to hope his uncle would 
 make him lose the train, " and — " 
 
 But Mr. Granby timed to a second. 
 " You had better be off now," he said, 
 holding up his watch. 
 
 He accompanied Ealph to the door, saw 
 him into the waggonette, and, ordering the 
 groom at all hazards to save the train, waited 
 till the vehicle dashed off. 
 
 Ealph looked up at the heavens, and rested 
 his glance on a bright, particular star, which 
 
 14—2
 
 212 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 somehow reminded him of Letty — Letty 
 whom he was leaving, he knew not for how 
 long, without farewell. But his heart still 
 swelled with bitterness. Not till he took 
 his seat in |he train, not till the engine gave 
 its premonitory shriek, not till the darkness 
 of the night struck his mind's eye, imaging 
 the dejection in his breast, would he listen 
 to the gentle pleadings of love. Then he 
 sprang to his feet, and bounded to the 
 carriage door — too late ! The train was fly- 
 ing through the air at express speed.
 
 CHAPTEE XXL 
 
 MRS. RIVERS BREAKS SILENCE. 
 
 On losing sight of Ealph and llr. Grranby, 
 Letty crossed the field to her father, and, as 
 much to the satisfaction of Bradley as the 
 disappointment of Harry, remained near his , 
 side till their guests departed. She tried to 
 keep her serene look, but it required great 
 constraint, for she was not only vexed but 
 sorrowful. In vain she told herself that 
 Ealph had no real cause to feel aggrieved. 
 He would judge from appearances, and by 
 these she stood condemned, even in her own 
 breast. At the very moment when she 
 heard of Ealph's appealing to his uncle for 
 her father, she had rushed into this pitfall, 
 though she then felt drawn to him as she 
 had never been before. She burned to ex-
 
 214 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 plain this to Ealph, and it soothed her to 
 think that he would understand her feeling, 
 and again be at the usual spot. 
 
 At length, the departure of the guests 
 left her at liberty, and as night was draw- 
 ing near, she mentioned her intention of 
 walking a part of the way home with Alice, 
 as a plea for going out. But she soon 
 parted with her friend, and hastened to the 
 stile, where she and Ralph had so often met. 
 The spot was now very still. Though the 
 sky wore but the first shade of evening, a tinge 
 hardly perceptible, nature here was already 
 asleep. Field and hedge and tree and the 
 whole scene lay motionless, unruffled by a 
 breath, and yielding not the slightest sound. 
 The silence and the seclusion were in unison 
 with Letty's mood, but her eye dimmed as, 
 sweeping the field, she saw that Ralph was 
 not there. Would he not come ? He might 
 be sure that she desired to remove the sus- 
 picions which he had shown by his look 
 that he entertained, and that this purpose 
 would bring her to the spot as soon as she 
 found an opportunity. But could Ralph
 
 MRS. RIVERS BREAKS SILENCE. 215 
 
 calculate to a second wlien she would ap- 
 pear ? Even were this possible, might he 
 not himself be engaged at that particular 
 time, and unable to attend? Letty con- 
 ceived these excuses for him, and allowed 
 them weight, admitting to herself that they 
 might exonerate Ralph, yet feeling disap- 
 pointed, notwithstanding. Her expectations 
 had been visionary, but, in such cases, no- 
 body — at least no woman — is guided by the 
 logic of facts, and Letty found it hard to 
 bring down her reasoning to the plain rule 
 of thumb. But the deepening tints of the^ 
 sky warned her that she must not continue 
 to linger ; indeed, she became convinced it 
 would be useless, and she turned towards 
 home. At this moment she was confronted 
 by Betty Kedge. 
 
 The old crone, after her discomfiture in 
 the afternoon by the appearance of Mr. 
 Granby, had watched the Squire from the 
 cottage window, whence she saw his start at 
 the sight of Harry, while she became sensi- 
 ble of her own mistake in confusing Harry 
 with Ralph. The result led her to search
 
 216 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 out whom Harry was. Born on tlie estate, 
 and in lier younger days employed by the 
 old family, she knew all the traditions of 
 the Granbys, and formed a conclusion about 
 Harry as soon as she learnt his name — the 
 only information about him she could 
 obtain. Instantly her animosity to him 
 vanished, and believing he could be a thorn 
 in the side of her oppressor, the Squire, she 
 was ready to aid and abet his every design. 
 At the same time, she became anxious to 
 make it up with Letty, who had always 
 treated her with kindness, drawn to her, 
 in spite of her crabbed temper, and the 
 stigma of witchcraft, by long familiarity 
 and by compassion for her age. The old 
 woman was thus minded when Letty passed 
 her cottage with Alice, and she decided to 
 follow, knowing she would intercept Letty 
 in returning. So it happened that they now 
 met. 
 
 " I seed my bonny miss go by, and I 
 comed as fast as I could to make friends 
 again," she said. " Ise only a poor old 
 woman, you know, and 'taint many will be
 
 MRS. EIVEES BREAKS SILENCE. 217 
 
 friends wi' me, and I've got a bitter tongue, 
 I own, and speak out — only it don't seem 
 to be I, but somebody speakin' from inside 
 o' me. And what I said to bonny miss was 
 all a mistake. There's nothing against your 
 young gentleman — gentleman he is, one of 
 the real stock. I thought it was somebody 
 else." 
 
 " You may think what you like, but I 
 won't permit you to address me in such lan- 
 guage as you used to-day," replied Letty ; 
 " and to show how little you know of my 
 affairs, I just tell you that gentleman is no 
 more to me than he is to yourself. And 
 that is all I have to say to you." 
 
 "But I have more to say to thee, my 
 beauty," answered old Bet, working her legs 
 and stick so effectually that she kept up 
 with Letty as she walked on. " This 
 Muster Clayton, though you don't know it, 
 is the right owner of all the Granby lands. 
 Squire's got no more call to 'em than you 
 or me." 
 
 " That is nothing to me," returned Letty, 
 disturbed by the news, nevertheless.
 
 218 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " But it may be, if you will. Ise got 
 eyes in my head, and a look be enough to 
 see the young gentleman is mad in love wi' 
 you. And Ise looked at your planet, too. 
 You 11 have he, that's certain ; and I'll see 
 pretty miss the lady of the hall." 
 
 " Neither you nor any one else can tell 
 what I shall be, and your talk about planets 
 is sheer nonsense." 
 
 So saying, Letty moved on at a pace that 
 left the old woman behind. 
 
 " Hers a proud minx, as they all be,' Bet 
 muttered ; " but the lad s arter she, and 
 he'll marry she, and they'll come to be great 
 folk, if I live to see 't : and I b'lieve III 
 live twenty year yet. Many o' my sart 
 come to a hundred year, so I must hold a 
 civil tongue wi' her. Cuss her ! I b'lieve 
 her cheeks be painted, for all her pretends 
 such simpleness." 
 
 Her words had made a deeper impression 
 on Letty than she supposed. The young 
 girl neither believed in her supernatural 
 powers, nor attached weight to her predic- 
 tion, but she felt interested by the announce-
 
 MRS. EIVERS BREAKS SILENCE. 219 
 
 ment that Harry was tlie real heir of the 
 Grranbys. Nor was she unmoved by the 
 assertion that he was in love with herself. 
 Could old Bet and Bradley, keen observers 
 as they were, both be deluded on this point ? 
 Nay, was it not the conviction also of 
 Ealph ? That she was admired by Harry 
 she could not but see, but she could recall 
 no look of his, nor a single expression, that 
 indicated a deeper feeling, and, in such a 
 matter, must she not be the best judge ? 
 So she did not admit the conclusion. But 
 the train of thought led her again to review 
 her own conduct towards Harry, and this 
 again brought a blush to her cheek, as she 
 reflected that, however innocent in reality, 
 it must appear to Ealph very faulty indeed. 
 It was beginning to grow dusk when she 
 arrived home. In the parlour she .found 
 her stepmother, who met her with a search- 
 ing look, which brought back the blush to 
 her cheek. But neither her heightened 
 colour nor her air afforded Mrs. Elvers any 
 revelation. She was sceptical about Letty's 
 walking part of the way home with Alice,
 
 220 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 and she thought to ask her if she had been 
 to meet Ealph, but, as the words rose to her 
 lips, she recurred to her previous policy, re- 
 solving to watch a little longer. In these 
 love matters women, indeed, seem to possess 
 an instinct which guides them to a right 
 conclusion when they are wholly without 
 information, and now Mrs. Rivers guessed 
 that whatever Letty expected, there had this 
 evening been no meeting with Ealph. The 
 next morning brought the news of his de- 
 parture for the continent, and being the 
 first to whom it was told, Mrs. Eivers found 
 her long-awaited opportunity in making it 
 known to Letty. 
 
 "I haven't spoken to you again about 
 young Ealph Grranby," she remarked, " be- 
 cause I thought I had said enough for the 
 time, and for the same reason I deferred 
 mentioning the subject to your father. The 
 thing is all off now, I suppose." 
 
 The last words were uttered in a tone to 
 sting Letty into a disclosure. 
 
 " I trust you will excuse my talking 
 about young Mr. Grranby, or any other
 
 MRS. RIVERS BREAKS SILENCE. 221 
 
 gentleman/' answered Letty, determined to 
 give no explanation. 
 
 "You know very well I don't wish to 
 engage you in any such conversation. What 
 I ask you about is your own conduct." 
 
 " I have nothing to reveal about that." 
 
 " You reveal everything by your silence," 
 said Mrs. Eivers, with a little sneer. " I 
 saw how it would be from the first, but you 
 would listen to neither admonition nor 
 counsel, and it is well you were led no 
 further than you have gone. You have lost 
 your dignity, but you have stopped short of , 
 making yourself a public talk." 
 
 "If I escape being talked of at chapel, 
 I ought to be more than human," rejoined 
 Letty. 
 
 " If you have been censured by some of 
 the upright, such rebukes are not answered 
 by your scoffs. The Apostle says, ' See 
 that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, 
 but as wise.' But you walk persistingly in 
 folly ! And your wilfulness is bearing fruit, 
 for if this young man has brought no evil 
 upon you, you have cast a shade upon him ;
 
 222 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 and it is no doubt througli some rumour of 
 your meetings that his uncle has sent him 
 abroad." 
 
 " I think you must be mistaken about his 
 going abroad/' said Letty, coldly, "for I 
 saw him and his uncle riding together yes- 
 terday." 
 
 "Do you mean to say you don't know 
 that Ralph Granby started for the Continent 
 last night ?" demanded Mrs. Rivers. 
 
 " I know it now that you have told me ; 
 but I heard nothing of it before." 
 
 "And you didn't see him before he 
 went ?" 
 
 "Certainly not." 
 
 Letty had gradually made her way to the 
 door, and now left the room, fearing to 
 betray the agitation which the news of 
 Ralph's departure raised in her breast.
 
 CHAPTEE XXII. 
 
 ADVANCE AND RETREAT. 
 
 Bet KedctE was not disposed to submit to 
 being shouldered out of the love affair, 
 which she believed, in spite of denial, to be 
 in progress between Letty and Harry. Re- 
 garding Harry as the true heir of the 
 Grranbys, and having made up her mind to 
 live to the age of a hundred, she considered 
 that she would establish a twenty years' pull 
 on the future owner of the Hall, by inter- 
 vening in his courtship, and she set herself 
 to ponder how this could be managed. It 
 may seem incredible that such a design 
 should be contemplated by an illiterate crone 
 of fourscore ; but Bet, as a Wise Woman, 
 still received many confidences, and was
 
 224 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 thus kept posted in human telegraphy. 
 Nor were her clients all of the labouring 
 class, or even of the grade or two next 
 above. Bet had been consulted from high 
 strata, by visitors coming to her — Nicode- 
 mus like — by night, when their planets were 
 visible in the sky, and they saw her " rule " 
 those mysterious objects with their own 
 eyes — or at least with hers, which they took 
 as the same thing. Hence she had become 
 versed in the weaknesses of human nature, 
 and knew they were confined to no class, 
 but common to the rich as the poor ; and so 
 it came to pass that on the morning after 
 her repulse by Letty, she locked up her 
 hovel, and set off on a seven miles' walk to 
 Berry Pomeroy, hoping to find some leaven 
 of superstition in Harry Clayton. 
 
 Harry was at work on his picture of the 
 castle, when, happening to look round, he 
 observed the old woman stamping towards 
 the ruin with her stick. It did not enter 
 his mind that it was him she came to seek, 
 and to avert her observation, he went on 
 with his work, thinking she would pass by.
 
 ADVANCE AND RETREAT. 225 
 
 Great was his astonishment to see her make 
 a dead stop at his side. 
 
 "Thou baint the man I took 'ee for, 
 young master," she said, ** and Ise come 
 over from Chesney to tell 'ee so ; but I 
 hadn't cast your planet, when I see thee 
 first. I thought yer was one of them 
 Byrnes. But you be a Grranby, master. 
 They're shams, but thou's the real blood." 
 
 " What do you know about me ?" ex- 
 claimed Harry, conciliated and a little star- 
 tled by this salutation. 
 
 " I know a good bit," answered Bet, who, 
 having fixed her eyes on his face, noted the 
 effect of her words. 
 
 Harry began to suspect she had been 
 pumping Jack Eeeve, or that Jack had been 
 talking publicly of the project for which he 
 sought his co-operation. 
 
 "Yer won't guess how it be," pursued 
 Bet, with the same scrutiny of his face. 
 " Ise find things out, without troublin' mor- 
 tal men, and I tell 'ee it will be ! I stood 
 in a circle, and said the Lord's Prayer back- 
 
 VOL. I. 15
 
 226 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 'ards, and I see yer will do what is in yer 
 heart." 
 
 " You must be remarkably far-sighted/' 
 jeered Harry. 
 
 "It don't matter for sight, though my 
 eyes be good, thanks for it. And mind 
 what I say, young master, for it'll surely 
 be, for all your laughing. Thou'll come to 
 live at the Hall, that's certain, and Letty 
 Eivers will be your wife." 
 
 Harry could not repress a thrill at this 
 announcement. If Bet had been a pro- 
 phetess of evil, he would have set her down 
 as an impostor, and, indeed, had done so at 
 their previous meeting ; but we look with 
 favour on a seer who predicts our success. 
 It was strange that he had just been think- 
 ing of Letty in the light of a wife, and, 
 certainly, unless he had been betrayed by 
 Jack Eeeve — which now did not appear so 
 likely — the old woman showed a marvellous 
 knowledge of his affairs. 
 ■ "I don't believe in prophecies," he said ; 
 " and as for wives, I shall look out for my- 
 self when I think of marrying; and I have
 
 ADVANCE AND RETREAT. 227 
 
 no doubt Miss Elvers will choose for her- 
 self, too. However, you do better with a 
 civil tongue in your head than a rough one, 
 so there's a shilling for you." 
 
 " Grive me a token for pretty Miss," urged 
 Bet, without thanking him for the coin. 
 
 "Be off with you!" 
 
 " I han't walked here seven mile to get a 
 shilling," returned Bet. " I corned because 
 I were moved inside o' me. It's fate, it 
 baint me. And yer '11 find it out, by 'nd 
 by. You'd best gi' me something for she — 
 if it's only a flower." 
 
 "I don't know what you are talking 
 about," rejoined Harry, determined to be 
 discreet, "and if we are to be friends, I re- 
 commend you to leave my affairs alone, until 
 I ask you to meddle with them. Now get 
 along." 
 
 "Very well, young master. Ise comed 
 to thee now ; but yer '11 come to I afore it's 
 all over." 
 
 With these words, Bet turned away, and 
 was soon hid from view by the trees. 
 
 Harry went on with his work, but found 
 
 15—2
 
 228 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 himself putting in the wrong colour, and 
 stopped. Instead of pourtraying the castle 
 in his front, he was building a castle in the 
 air, and for the moment the latter occupa- 
 tion was the more attractive. The old 
 woman had supplied him with material, 
 spreading before him a golden prospect ; 
 and he reflected that somehow these witches 
 did make extraordinary guesses. His so- 
 journings among the rude peasants of Styria 
 and Italy disposed him to be credulous, even 
 a little superstitious. He believed in 
 destiny, and Bet struck this chord in his 
 breast, when her prophecy hit the mark at 
 which he aimed. For all day he had been 
 thinking of wooing Letty, and now she was 
 made to appear bound to him by fate, and 
 the accompaniment of his inheritance. It 
 was pleasant to view her in this light, to 
 conjure up her form, remember her hundred 
 graces, and recall her gestures and move- 
 ments. And he stood contemplating this 
 picture with his mind's eye ! 
 
 Vain is it to lay out a course for ourselves 
 through life, and resolve not to be turned
 
 ADVANCE AND RETREAT. 229 
 
 aside by any temptation. Woman appears, 
 and like the fairy in the pantomime, produces 
 a transformation scene, which, obliterating 
 our projects of ambition, surrounds us with 
 a blinding atmosphere of light, in which we 
 see nothing but herself Harry forgot even 
 the lands of his ancestors, when he thought 
 of Letty's eyes and tresses. Nor was he 
 enchained by her beauty alone ; he recalled 
 the sweetness of her voice, her buoyancy 
 and vivacity, and her pretty, dreamy ways, 
 suggestive to an artist without suggesting 
 art. At first he was fully determined to 
 marry her in a few years, when he would 
 certainly be in a good position, for he hoped 
 at least by that time, to have made some 
 mark as a painter ; then he abridged the 
 period to a few months, designing to wait 
 only the effect of his assault on the Grranbys. 
 Pinally he decided to declare his love at once. 
 He would walk over to the farm that very 
 afternoon ; nay, he began to think he ought 
 not to lose a moment. It now seemed that 
 somebody might slip in before him — Ealph 
 G^ranby, or Bradley, or some person unknown
 
 230 BOWK IN DEVON. 
 
 — and snatch away the prize. But lie remem- 
 bered destiny, and recovered his confidence. 
 
 Thus he set off in good spirits, and the 
 walk, now through pleasant fields, now 
 through turf-banked lanes, between hedges 
 festooned with the convolvulus and dogrose, 
 divested his mind of every care. And for- 
 tune seemed to smile on his errand ; for, as 
 he drew near the farm, he saw Letty in 
 the meadow, sitting under a tree. She was 
 reading, and he was able to approach unob- 
 served. 
 
 " So studious !" he exclaimed. " What 
 author is so happy as to enthral such a 
 reader ?" 
 
 " I am only reading a novel," answered 
 Letty, startled to find herself again alone 
 with Harry in public, and for the moment 
 seeing no way of escape. 
 
 " Only ! Why what else could you read, 
 or anybody ? Novels are the aliment of the 
 age. But name ! name !" 
 
 Letty exposed the title page. 
 
 " Ah ! religious," cried Harry. " No 
 murder then ?"
 
 ADVANCE AND RETREAT. 231 
 
 "Oh, no!" 
 
 "A novel without a murder!" rejoined 
 Harry. " Can it be ?" 
 
 " I assure you such a thing is within na- 
 ture — or art, and this work is an instance." 
 
 " You are only in the middle of it, and 
 will come to a murder yet, if you read on." 
 
 " I can't beguile the way with this ex- 
 pectation, as I have skimmed to the end, and 
 know the story. It hinges on a lady mar- 
 rying a second time, imder the impression 
 that her first husband is dead, and — " 
 
 " He unluckily proves to be alive," inter- 
 rupted Harry. 
 
 " Precisely." 
 
 " But that is the plot of every novel, ex- 
 cept when it is a murder." 
 
 " That doesn't signify. What I like to 
 read'^about is the emotion, which is inde- 
 pendent of the story, or, at least, when you 
 know the end, makes the story a matter of 
 indifference." 
 
 " Then the most attractive reading to 
 ladies is sermons on their own feelings ?" 
 
 " What could interest us more ?"
 
 2S2 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " Well, if you like sncli hard reading as 
 that, I don't know what could not interest 
 you. A man would as soon think of reading 
 about his boots as his feelings. Indeed, 
 boots are, perhaps, of more importance to us, 
 because our business in life is to keep on our 
 feet." 
 
 "And our business is to feel: at least, 
 that is what is expected from us." 
 
 " Ah ! if you have that impression, I un- 
 derstand why you all like descriptions of the 
 feelings. You wish to know what you are 
 to go through, and some want to study their 
 part, and see what they are to perform." 
 
 " Do you think anyone can expect to go 
 through life with performance ? particularly 
 any woman ? Isn't it more true to say we 
 learn our part from the first — not from no- 
 vels, not from any books, but from every- 
 thing we are taught to do ? All show us 
 we are to live for others." 
 
 " But do all learn the lesson ?" 
 
 " Do all men learn theirs ? We are not 
 to be judged by exceptions any more than 
 men. But I declare there is papa going off
 
 ADVANCE AND EETEEAT. 233 
 
 to Cliesney," Letty caught at this opening to 
 get away, " and I wish particularly to speak 
 to him, I must run !'' 
 
 Before Harry could reply, she darted off, 
 and presently was hid from view by the 
 hedge. Her father was but a few yards 
 ahead, but was walking quick, and a 
 moment later might have been out of reach, 
 but now he heard her slight exclamation, 
 and waited till she came up. 
 
 "Mr. Clayton is in the meadow," she 
 said, " and I want you to come and see 
 him." 
 
 " I can't now," replied Mr. Elvers, " as I 
 have an appointment at Chesney, to sell 
 some hay, and have but just time to get 
 there. Take him indoors, and keep him till 
 I return." 
 
 " No, no, come back for an instant." 
 
 But Mr. Elvers went off laughing. 
 
 " I won't tell him, mind !" Letty shouted 
 out. 
 
 The farmer jocosely snapped his fingers, 
 and continued his way, little dreaming how 
 distressed he left Letty. But after reflecting
 
 234 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 a moment, Letty determined rather to ap- 
 pear forgetful of Harry, than go back to 
 him by herself ; so, instead of returning by 
 the meadow, she made her way to the house 
 from the front, not doubting that when he 
 found she did not re-appear, Harry also 
 would go to the house, where Mrs. Eivers 
 could give him her father's message. 
 
 Harry was a little disconcerted by her 
 flight. Not that he saw, or had the remotest 
 suspicion of her motive, but he thought she 
 would not be so alert about her father if she 
 had been particularly engrossed by himself. 
 This suggested the conclusion that he had 
 better delay making an avowal of his attach- 
 ment. Indeed, it might be as well to 
 assume a little coolness. This mode of 
 wooing was sometimes very effective, when, 
 as in the present case, a girl was sated with 
 admiration and expected nothing else. So 
 he remembered that their meeting was, in 
 appearance, an accident, and committed him 
 neither to await Letty 's return, nor to visit 
 the house, and accordingly he walked away 
 in the other direction, pluming himself with
 
 ADVANCE AND RETHEAT. 235 
 
 the notion that Letty would come back and 
 find him gone. Thus we often deceive 
 ourselves as to the effect of our actions, 
 when, in fact, they produce no effect what- 
 ever.
 
 CHAPTEE XXIIL 
 
 DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE. 
 
 Mr. Granby was much perplexed as to his 
 nephew's relations with Letty. Sometimes 
 he thought Letty had captivated Ealph, and 
 then he flew to the opposite opinion, 
 persuading himself that Ealph*s feelings 
 amounted to no more than a passing admira- 
 tion. Ralph's intervention for Mr. Eivers 
 looked serious, but, on the other hand, the 
 Squire was reassured by his acceptance of 
 the continental tour. Nevertheless he de- 
 cided that it would be safest to get L'etty 
 out of the way, keeping Ealph abroad till 
 this was accomplished, 
 
 Ealph certainly took to his travels with 
 great zeal, for he no sooner reported himself 
 to his uncle from Paris, than the next post
 
 DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE. 237 
 
 communicated his arrival at Chamouni, and 
 a few days afterwards the Squire received a 
 Swiss newspaper, recording his ascent of 
 Mont Blanc. This last dispatch, indeed, a 
 little dashed Mr. Grranby, and he began to 
 feel something of the perplexity of Sir 
 Michael Scott, when he was obliged to cut 
 out work for the devil; whereupon he wrote 
 to tell Ealph that he thought it would be as 
 well, after all, to "do" the Matterhorn. 
 Having secured this breathing-time, he 
 summoned Bradley, with the view of arrang- 
 ing the suppression of Letty. 
 
 '' My nephew spoke to me about my 
 notice to Rivers, at the Orchard Farm," 
 he said, after discussing some other business 
 with the Steward. "As Eivers is an old 
 tenant, I am willing to do what is reasonable 
 in the matter, and something more, par- 
 ticularly as I understand it is his daughter 
 you are pajdng your addresses to. By the 
 way," for the Squire remembered Letty's 
 declaration that she was not engaged to 
 Bradley, " am I in order in asking if that 
 affair is to come off? is all decided on ?"
 
 238 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " It would be if it rested with me, Mr. 
 Granby," replied the Steward, " but it is of 
 no avail for the man to have a leading, if the 
 woman feels none, and I am waiting on the 
 time." 
 
 " You had better take time by the fore- 
 lock,[before somebody else does. Waiting 
 may be very well in ordinary affairs, but 
 girls don't like it, unless they have got 
 some devilish purpose of their own to serve. 
 Nay, I have no wish to argue the point, I 
 simply state my opinion." 
 
 " But there is a difficulty to be got over," 
 urged Bradley. 
 
 " Exactly, and I enter into your feelings 
 on the point." Mr. Granby always entered 
 into people's feelings, but never permitted 
 the feelings to enter himself. "But the 
 young person will see how the matter stands. 
 Of course, if she married my steward, 
 I shouldn't like to take the farm from her 
 father, only I must know what I'm about. 
 You can't expect me to put off my arrange- 
 ments, because you and Miss Eivers won't 
 come to a decision about: yours."
 
 DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE. 239 
 
 "That would be out of reason, Mr. 
 Granby." 
 
 "Very well, then. Take my advice, and 
 see, now you have a leverage, what you can 
 do. You can tell me the result to-morrow." 
 
 So saying, Mr. Granby opened the large 
 folio pages of FleydeWs Statutes of England, 
 one of the two volumes on duty on his table 
 for the day, and Bradley took the hint to 
 withdraw. 
 
 The Squire had shown a greater interest 
 in his success than he thought him capable 
 of, seeming, in fact, to make himself a party, 
 to his addresses, and the Steward considered 
 long how he could most effectively use this 
 advantage. Finally he decided to make his 
 approach through Mrs. Rivers. 
 
 He found that lady alone when he was 
 shewn into the parlour, and he went straight 
 to the subject. 
 
 " Mr. Granby spoke to me about the farm 
 this morning," he said. " It will be very 
 hard upon you to have to go away." 
 
 "And very unjust to us,'' replied Mrs. 
 Eivers, " but there are people in the world.
 
 240 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 who never consider justice, and Mr. Grranby 
 is one of them." 
 
 " I will say nothing of his character, re- 
 membering I am as one of his house, and, 
 in truth, he shows a remembrance of this 
 himself. I have come here now by his en- 
 couragement." 
 
 " How so ?" asked Mrs. Rivers, looking 
 up. 
 
 "Well, somehow he has heard of my 
 love for Letty ; in Chesney it is no secret, 
 and you know he hears all the chatter 
 of the place, and this morning he spoke 
 to me of it, and told me you shouldn't 
 be disturbed in the farm, if I married 
 Letty." 
 
 Mrs. Eivers stopped her sewing. 
 
 " Why should he meddle in it ? — he, who 
 feels for nobody !" she said, thoughtfully. 
 
 " Let us not judge," replied Bradley, " or 
 we may fall into the error of the Pharisees, 
 who looked only at the outside. He knows 
 I am faithful in my charge, and I believe he 
 is willing to do me a service. Do you think 
 his words will weigh with Letty ?"
 
 DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE. 241 
 
 " Who can tell ?" answered Mrs. Elvers, 
 guardedly. 
 
 " One thing I have ascertained," continued 
 Bradley : " she is no way allured by Mr. 
 Clayton, as I mistakingly supposed." 
 
 " You have nothing to dread from Mm" 
 said Mrs. Elvers, with a slight stress on the 
 pronoun. 
 
 " Is there anyone else ?" asked Bradley, 
 quickly. 
 
 " She has mentioned no one." 
 
 " But you suspect ?" 
 
 " I have observed lately that she is verjt 
 quiet, and sometimes she looks sad, but this 
 may be only our trouble." 
 
 "Very likely that, for she has a most 
 tender heart." 
 
 Though Mrs. Elvers did not concur in 
 this eulogy, she no way disparaged Letty. 
 Their antagonism was more a habit than a 
 feeling, arising out of the sense of step- 
 motherhood. And Mrs. Elvers was sorely 
 perplexed. Just as she conceived all was 
 off between Letty and Ealph, here was Mr. 
 Granby showing signs of alarm, first sending 
 
 VOL. I. 16
 
 242 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 Ealpli away, and then moving in favour of 
 Bradley. Despite her religious twist, Mrs. 
 Elvers had an excellent gift of common 
 sense, and she jumped to the right conclu- 
 sion — namely, that Mr. Grranby sought to 
 prevent mischief by getting Letty married. 
 In such a case, matters must have gone fur- 
 ther between Letty and Ealph than she 
 supposed, and could hardly be altogether 
 ended. Would it not be prudent to tell her 
 suspicions to her husband ? She wavered a 
 moment, but then decided that it would still 
 be better to wait, as she could now subject 
 Letty to another ordeal. The Squire's pro- 
 mise to Bradley enabled her to take up new 
 ground, and she could appeal for Bradley to 
 the young girl through her affection for her 
 father. The nature of her relations with 
 Ralph, now impenetrable, might then be 
 inferred from her course of action. 
 
 " I will let her know we may be at ease 
 about the farm if she consents to be your 
 wife," she said to Bradley. " This can be 
 told her better by me than by yourself, and 
 you can speak to her afterwards."
 
 DIPLOMATIC PKESSURE. 243 
 
 " That is just what I wish/' replied Brad- 
 ley ; " and something in my heart whispers 
 you will prevail. The finger of Providence 
 is in these things, though we don't always 
 see it, and now it seems to be working on 
 my side. I am thankful for it — verily thank- 
 ful !" 
 
 He went away, leaving Mrs. Rivers to 
 carry out her purpose. She had not long 
 to wait for an opportunity, for hardly had 
 she collected her thoughts, when Letty, who 
 had been engaged in household affairs, came 
 into the room. 
 
 "You have just lost Mr. Bradley," said 
 her stepmother ; " but perhaps you met 
 him outside ?" 
 
 " No, he went by the field," answered 
 Letty. " I saw him crossing it." 
 
 " I needn't tell you what he came about." 
 
 " I have no wish to know." 
 
 " Because you know already. Be straight- 
 forward, show some good feeling and some 
 good sense, and don't give yourself wholly 
 to vanity." Mrs. Kivers here perceived that 
 she was running into a didactic strain, 
 
 • 16—2
 
 244 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 which, however provoked by Letty's con- 
 duct, was not exactly in season. 
 
 •' I don't deny that you have a right to 
 consider every point," she continued in a 
 milder tone, " or that worldly considerations 
 should not be put aside, but of course if you 
 had any opportunity that more engaged 
 your heart" — she fixed her eyes on Letty — 
 *' a real, genuine opportunity, you would 
 mention it." 
 
 Letty intrenched herself in silence. 
 
 "I assume you have no such excuse," 
 pursued Mrs. Rivers, after this pause. " So 
 I tell you the time has come when you 
 must decide seriously what you will say to 
 Luke Bradley." 
 
 ** I have done this already," replied Letty. 
 
 " But he must have your answer." 
 
 " My answer has been given." 
 
 " Do you mean, you have absolutely re- 
 fused him ?" 
 
 " Absolutely." 
 
 "He doesn't understand this, and it is 
 thus open to you to weigh his offer again, 
 bearing in mind that we are not to be guided
 
 DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE. 245 
 
 to marriage by our own perverse inclina- 
 tion, but by motives of duty. The Mora- 
 vians even allow themselves no choice in it, 
 but take their partner by allotment, and. to 
 my thinking, this is a gracious practice, 
 which it would be well if all followed. But 
 your father leaves you a certain liberty; 
 and it behoves me to admonish you that 
 it is not to be abused." 
 
 " I hope admonition is unnecessary." 
 
 "Well, you abuse your liberty if you 
 make it an occasion of stumbling to others. 
 This man loves you, and in return you con-, 
 demn him to misery. And this isn't all, 
 for by the same act you send your father 
 and me into the world homeless and almost 
 beggared.'' 
 
 " The first charge is enough," said Letty, 
 with bitterness. " Pray don't bring against 
 me more than I am accountable for." 
 
 " The Lord forbid ! " exclaimed Mrs. 
 Rivers, again softening her tone. " I seek 
 but to put before you what you are taking 
 on yourself, so that your way may be clear. 
 But it is true that you are to decide whether
 
 246 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 your father shall lose tlie farm or not, for 
 the Squire has promised to renew his term 
 if you marry Mr. Bradley." 
 
 " Who told you this ?" said Letty, agi- 
 tatedly. 
 
 " It matters not— I know it." 
 
 " And my father ?" 
 
 " He is at present ignorant that the pro- 
 mise has been made." 
 
 " That is what I thought — what I hoped." 
 
 " Why hoped ? You can't suppose I will 
 keep it secret from him ?" 
 
 " I ask you to do so for two days." 
 
 " For what reason ?" 
 
 " Because he will consider it decisive 
 against Mr. Bradley ; for I know he would 
 rather be the outcast you anticipate, thaa 
 have such a stress laid upon me. And 
 
 I " here Letty's voice trembled — " I 
 
 wish to consider my father." 
 
 " Then I am content," said her step- 
 mother, more kindly. "You will turn 
 everything over in your mind, and speak to 
 me again after to-morrow ? " 
 
 Letty bent her head in assent, and left 
 the room.
 
 CHAPTEE XXIV. 
 
 THE FIRST TRIAL. 
 
 Ealph's unexpected departure for the Con- 
 tinent caused Letty the deepest dejection. 
 His going away in this manner, without 
 bidding her adieu, she could regard only as 
 retaliation for her supposed encouragement 
 of Harry; or what was even worse, as 
 prompted by his reliance on the weakness 
 of her position, a weakness hinging on 
 her trust in himself. Lovers are prover- 
 bially sensitive, feeling aggrieved on the 
 slightest pretext ; and how must this dis- 
 position be heightened when there is sensi- 
 tiveness in the bond itself! when the 
 lovers are of a different rank in life, and 
 their engagement is secret ! Then the
 
 248 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 maiden claims every forbearance and every 
 support, and nothing but the assurance de- 
 rived from constant, unremitted fondness, 
 sustains her trembling step. Love opens 
 the imagination, for the time kindling that 
 faculty, where it might seem to have no 
 existence ; and the heart is thus given the 
 power to conjure up fears, which, as they 
 rise from its depths, overcast every hope. 
 But Letty, aggrieved and humbled, would 
 not acknowledge that her dejection — calling 
 it by the mildest term — sprang from love ; 
 she sought to persuade herself it was caused 
 by vexation, mortification, wounded pride, 
 disappointment — by anything but slighted 
 affection. Not that she succeeded; for a 
 trembling within forbade her to accept the 
 belief. Her love might be unimpassioned ; 
 this must be left for events to show ; but 
 when she looked in her breast, she could not 
 but see love was there. 
 
 Such was the conviction into which she 
 had drifted about Ealph, when she heard 
 from her step-mother of the new issue in- 
 volved in Bradley's suit, and now saw her
 
 THE riRST THIAL. 249 
 
 vague terrors about Bradley take a substan- 
 tial shape. The form, indeed, was one she 
 had not dreamt of, imposing pressure at 
 points she thought secure, through the 
 lapse of her lover and the constancy of her 
 father. Apparently forsaken by Ealph, was 
 she to deem herself still bound to him? 
 Should he be free, and she held enchained, 
 permitting an illusion to outweigh the true 
 suit of Bradley, which, hateful though it was, 
 now involved the interests — not to say the 
 happiness — of her father ? It was a difficult 
 problem for one so young, so impulsive, and 
 so swayed by imagination. She could not 
 see her father deprived of his home while 
 she clung to what might prove a shadow. 
 Yet to marry Bradley was to consign herself 
 to a fate worse than death. 
 
 Nevertheless, she was in that temper 
 when, with her innate qualities aroused, 
 such influences might prompt her to a des- 
 perate step. She felt as if she had been 
 wandering, and she now wished to keep a 
 straight course, putting aside — indeed, not 
 remembering her own projects, but seeking
 
 250 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 only to set herself right. There was this 
 true instinct in her soul, which rocked about 
 like a compass in a ship, but, also like a 
 compass, held a magnetic needle, which 
 never swerved from the point of principle. 
 
 Long she thought over her position, at 
 one moment under the influence of her filial 
 afiection, at another reflecting that she 
 must still consider herself engaged, and 
 then dwelling alternately on Ealph's con- 
 duct and her own, but she could form no 
 decision. In truth, she was very averse 
 to the marriage with Bradley, and felt 
 that she could not decide upon it till the 
 last moment, when it should come as a 
 thing that must be, and which she had not 
 power to avert. 
 
 Strolling in the garden, with these 
 thoughts, she suddenly confronted her 
 father. Whether it was the surprise of 
 the meeting, or that there was something 
 searching in his gaze, or that her conscience 
 reproached her with concealment, a blush 
 flew to her cheek, and she dropped her 
 eyes.
 
 THE FIRST TRIAL. 251 
 
 " What is my girl fretting about ?" said 
 Mr. Eivers, observing the signs. " You 
 have seemed full of care this day or two." 
 
 " I am sorry you have perceived it," an- 
 swered Letty, " for I ought not to bring 
 any anxiety upon you, at a time when you 
 are so harassed." 
 
 And she put her arm round his neck. 
 
 "I had rather share your trouble than 
 not know it, my dear. This is one of the 
 duties of a parent, and one of his consola- 
 tions, too, for in sharing his child's burden 
 he lightens it. Isn't it so ?" 
 
 " You are ever so thoughtful for me, dear 
 papa. How am I to repay your affection ?" 
 
 " By having no secret troubles." 
 
 "But, you know, there are things one 
 doesn't like to talk about," answered Letty, 
 hiding her face on his breast ; " perplexities, 
 doubts, and misgivings, which seem nothing 
 to another person, but are very important to 
 one's self. Now suppose we were Eoman 
 Catholics, and I was urged to take the veil, 
 and become a nun ?" 
 
 " That is a strange notion ; one of your
 
 252 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 own romantic ideas, Letty. But, come, we 
 will, as you say, suppose it." 
 
 "Well, I should have an aversion to 
 the step, but the considerations might re- 
 concile me to it for the moment. Only, 
 what if I repented afterwards, as some are 
 said to do ? There could then be no draw- 
 ing back ! I should be bound for life — for 
 ever ! and wearing the nun's garb, keeping 
 silence as to all I felt, professing to the 
 world that I was the same in heart as in 
 vestment, should I not be a hypocrite ?" 
 
 "Certainly not. We must judge such 
 lapses kindly, and regard them more as sub- 
 missions than deceptions." 
 
 Letty reflected a moment. 
 
 " Yes," she then said, " it is submission, 
 and to submit is woman's duty." 
 
 Mr. Eivers now thought she was chafing 
 under some pressure from her step-mother, 
 and understanding the dispositions of both 
 his wife and Letty, knowing that as a rule 
 they got on very well together, and that 
 harmony would not be promoted by his 
 intervention, he replied to Letty 's sentiment
 
 'the first trial. 253 
 
 by an embrace, which tacitly expressed con- 
 currence. 
 
 " What do you think Ealph Grranby has 
 been about ?" he said, changing the subject. 
 " It was only the day before yesterday we 
 heard of his going up Mont Blanc, and now 
 he has been climbing another mountain, and 
 here is an account of it in the London news- 
 paper. You can read it." 
 
 He gave her the journal, and turned away, 
 while Letty's eye fell on the report, which 
 was headed " Ascent of the Matterhorn." 
 
 She moved on, with the paper in hey 
 hand. Her abandonment by Ealph, con- 
 firmed by the ardour with which he pur- 
 sued his tour, now seemed more complete, 
 and more cruel. For a few minutes she 
 walked along in a sort of stupor. Disap- 
 pointment, mortification, and anger, pro- 
 voked by this fresh impulse, by turns seized 
 her mind, and aggravated her unhappiness. 
 Then she began to collect and calm herself. 
 She remembered her own words to her 
 father, just uttered, and to which he gave a 
 silent assent — the testimony that the duty
 
 254 DOWN IN EEVON. 
 
 of woman is submission. She must consent 
 to be the sport of events, and either suppress 
 her feelings, or altogether cast them out; 
 for fate seemed to interdict her from any 
 freedom of action. 
 
 Her steps brought her to the meadow, 
 and she sank down on the grass, under her 
 favourite tree, and began to read the account 
 of Ealph's exploit. At first she gave it 
 little attention, glancing listlessly along the 
 lines, but presently she became more inte- 
 rested, and was soon holding her breath. 
 The mad feat excited her astonishment 
 rather than her admiration, for daring only 
 captivates women when the object is heroic, 
 but she softened towards Ealph, neverthe- 
 less. Why had he judged her so hardly ; 
 left her so abruptly ; and forgotten her so 
 completely ? She rose to her feet, and 
 walked quickly on, as if to escape her 
 thoughts. Thus she crossed the meadow to 
 the road. 
 
 It happened that Mr. Granby, full of 
 misgivings as to her relations with Ealph, 
 was drawn at the same moment to the same
 
 THE riRST TRIAL. 255 
 
 spot. Seeing her in front, he conceived the 
 design of putting her under interrogation, 
 after the manner familiar to his experience 
 as a magistrate, and he regulated his steps, 
 so as to come up with her at a sequestered 
 point of the road. 
 
 " Miss Eivers, I think ?*' he said, slightly- 
 lowering the elevation of his chin as she 
 turned round. 
 
 Letty inclined her head, and again Mr. 
 Granby noted her beauty. 
 
 " I hope we are not to lose you out of our 
 neighbourhood ?" he said, with a condescend-, 
 ing air. 
 
 " I believe papa has yet formed no inten- 
 tions as to his future residence, sir," an- 
 swered Letty. 
 
 " Anyhow, is there not a prospect of your 
 remaining here yourself in a new character ?" 
 
 The question caused Letty a little bewil- 
 derment, an effect which, though she knew 
 it not, gave a fresh charm to her face. 
 
 " I don't know how far I may be well- 
 informed," pursued Mr. Grranby. " You did, 
 indeed, tell me there was no engagement
 
 256 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 between you and Mr. Bradley, my steward, 
 but I know I am right in sajdng lie is a 
 great admirer of Miss Eivers. Certainly bis 
 forming such a connection " — Mr. Grranby 
 slightly raised his chin — " would be very 
 satisfactory to me ; and, if this will weigh in 
 his favour, I am glad to have the opportu- 
 nity of telling you so." 
 
 Letty made a courteous gesture. 
 
 "Am I to understand that you look 
 favourably on his suit?" continued Mr. 
 Grranby. 
 
 " You must excuse me, if I decline to say 
 anything to you on such a subject," replied 
 Letty. 
 
 " At least you entertain it ?" returned 
 Mr. Grranby, with a quick glance. " That 
 is something, and you may understand what 
 a regard we have for Bradley, when I say 
 that his success will charm both myself and 
 my nephew." 
 
 Letty's cheek paled. 
 
 " You know Mr. Ealph Grranby, I think ?" 
 resumed the Squire ; " I fancy I saw him 
 talking to you the other day. Ah ! I re-
 
 THE FIRST TRIAL. 257 
 
 member " — for liere Mr. Grranby saw an 
 opening for a joke, such as be fired oif from 
 tbe magisterial bencb — " be belped you over 
 tbe stile, and now I wish be and I together 
 could belp my steward over tbe stile. Wbat 
 do you say, Miss Eivers ? My nepbew isn't 
 here to plead witb me, but, witb your per- 
 mission, I will do duty for all, and I bope 
 be may find you comfortably settled on bis 
 return — six or twelve months hence." 
 
 Mr. Granby pronounced the last words 
 slowly, keeping his eye on Letty, who visi- 
 bly faltered, but he could not be sure whether 
 it was at the earnestness of his intervention, 
 or the announcement that Ealph would be 
 so long absent. 
 
 " I will think of what you have said, sir," 
 she answered. 
 
 And she turned round and walked away 
 in tbe other direction. Her step quickened 
 as she proceeded, and as she thought only 
 of escaping from Mr. Granby, she did not 
 perceive that she was watched and followed 
 by old Bet Kedge, nor, in fact, did she take 
 heed whither she was going till, after a 
 
 VOL. I. 17
 
 258 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 smart walk, site glanced round, and found 
 herself on tlie spot where she was accus- 
 tomed to meet Ealph. Instantly a flood of 
 associations came into her mind, recalling all 
 her distraction. And now she heard that 
 Ealph was not gone for a few weeks, as she 
 supposed, but for months — for a year — per- 
 haps years ! She paced up and down, now 
 with step slow enough, and her head droop- 
 ing on her breast. Suddenly she heard an 
 exclamation — 
 
 "Lettyr 
 
 There, close at her side, was Ealph him- 
 self, and she dropped in his arms, forgetting 
 all her misgivings, and not dreaming that, 
 in so secluded a spot, there could be a wit- 
 ness of their meeting. But they were only 
 divided by the hedge of hawthorn from Bet 
 Kedge.
 
 CHAPTEE XXV. 
 
 letty's appeal. 
 
 The great pleasure of a lover's quarrel, next 
 to the misery of the breach, is the reconcili- 
 ation. Letty felt compensated for all her 
 sufferings when she found herself leaning 
 on Ealph's shoulder, and resting in his em- 
 brace. With the tenderness of her sex, she 
 forgave everything, and Ealph's presence 
 both restored her confidence and dispelled 
 her fears. For the moment, nothing re- 
 mained on her mind but the burden of 
 secrecy ; and she thought she should count 
 herself happy, if Ealph's attachment to her 
 were but known to her father. 
 
 " I fancied you had gone for a long tour,'* 
 she said, as the excitement of the surprise 
 subsided. 
 
 17—2
 
 260 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " Without bidding you good bye !" ex- 
 claimed Ealph, with imperturbable face. 
 
 " You didn't think of that !" 
 
 " Very much more than you imagine, or 
 than perhaps I ought to claim credit for, 
 considering all the facts. For, though time 
 pressed, I confess there was one opportunity, 
 if I had seized it promptly, and gone to your 
 own house/' 
 
 " If there was only one opportunity, and 
 one that required such alertness, I have no 
 right to complain. Nor shall I tell you how 
 unhappy I have been." 
 
 " Unhappy, dear Letty ! Surely not on 
 that account. If it could be so, you might 
 forgive me — as you have done — but I 
 shouldn't forgive myself And now, I make 
 one promise, in future I shall think always 
 of your loving welcome of me to-day, after I 
 so tried your patience, and if ever my mind 
 is crossed by a lover's doubts, I shall 
 remember that your confidence in me 
 places you in a position in which you 
 are obliged to be attentive to others, 
 as well as to myself, though still your
 
 letty's appeal. 261 
 
 heart is wholly — yes, I will think wholly 
 mine." 
 
 " That will be affectionate and trustful, 
 and I shall feel a relief in knowing you 
 understand my difficulties." Here Letty 
 paused, and then, in a tremulous voice, 
 added, "Could you conceive that I have 
 just been in conversation with your \mcle?" 
 
 "It is one of the last things that could 
 have entered my mind," returned Ealph, 
 whose surprise was manifest. " Has he 
 been to the farm, or did he accost you on 
 the road ?" 
 
 " On the road ; but I must tell you he 
 spoke to me before, about three weeks ago, 
 just after he saw us at the stile.'' And 
 Letty related her first adventure with Mr. 
 Grranby. 
 
 " And he never said a word of this to 
 me!" exclaimed Ealph. 
 
 " I attached no importance to that meet- 
 ing," resumed Letty, " but to-day he spoke 
 to me in ^ a different strain. He not only 
 referred to Bradley, as on the former occa- 
 sion, but he pleaded for him." Letty, from
 
 262 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 delicacy for Ralph, refrained from saying 
 that Mr. Grranby spoke also in his nephew's 
 name. "And he has enabled Bradley to 
 put a pressure upon me, which will, in- 
 deed, be of no avail, but " 
 
 "What is it? Tell me, dear Letty— I 
 entreat you to tell me." 
 
 " And I entreat you to spare me the pain. 
 One thing more I ask of you, dear Ealph — 
 what will preserve me from this trial, and 
 end my misgivings. It seems unkind to 
 make the request at a moment when you 
 so appreciate my difficulties ; and were there 
 nothing to be gained but my personal ease, 
 I should be silent about it. But I feel 
 I am practising deception to papa, who loves 
 me so dearly, and it has cost me many 
 tears." Ealph caught her hand in both his 
 own. " I want you just to speak to him, 
 Ealph — to tell him your feelings in confi- 
 dence, and ask his counsel." 
 
 " I will do what you urge," answered 
 Ealph, tenderly — " urge with such delicacy 
 and tenderness. Indeed, before you men- 
 tioned it, I perceived that I had put too
 
 letty's appeal. 263 
 
 great a strain upon you. But what if your 
 father decides against us, will you then 
 stand by me, and risk all with me ?" 
 
 " All !" responded Letty, unhesitatingly. 
 
 " Then I will see your papa to-morrow," 
 said Ealph. 
 
 His decision gave a new spirit to Letty ; 
 it brought a flush to her cheek and sparkle 
 to her eye, which survived their parting, 
 and on her return home, her animated look 
 surprised Mrs. Eivers, and finally sent the 
 good matron wondering to bed.
 
 CHAPTEE XXVI. 
 
 MR. GRANBY IS A LITTLE BAFFLED. 
 
 Mr. Gtranby's meeting witli Letty afforded 
 him great satisfaction. He felt that he had 
 made a point for Bradley, and at the same 
 time he rejoiced in a good action, feeling the 
 pleasure experienced only by those who take 
 up the interests of their inferiors in order to 
 serve their own. It is true, he wished 
 Bradley to cut out Ealph, or, at least, to 
 remove a temptation from his way; but if 
 we kill two birds with one stone, we deserve 
 as much credit for one hit as the other. 
 There could be no doubt that he was ma* 
 naging capitally. He had written to Ealph 
 to remain abroad ; he had established an ac- 
 quaintance with Letty, and holding the notice 
 to quit in terrorem over her father, he was
 
 MR. GRANBY IS A LITTLE BAFFLED. 265 
 
 bringing everything to bear effectively on 
 Bradley's suit. Unluckily for his object, all 
 depended on his keeping Ealph at the other 
 end of Europe ; and at the moment when suc- 
 cess seemed certain, when he considered his 
 purpose already gained, he suddenly met 
 Kalph in his own avenue. 
 
 " Where the deuce have you come from ?'* 
 he exclaimed. " It is only this morning I 
 wrote to you." 
 
 " How did you address the letter ?" asked 
 Ralph, innocently. 
 
 " To the hotel you dated from the day 
 before yesterday. You have been in a con- 
 founded hurry, to come from the heart of 
 Switzerland in such a short time." 
 
 " I wanted to get home." 
 
 "So it appears. Only from the post- 
 marks on your letters, I couldn't believe 
 you had been away." 
 
 " I can't see that I went so fast. You 
 know I left here by the night express. I 
 reached London in the morning, Paris in 
 the evening, went straight on to Geneva, 
 and arrived at Chamouni the next evening,
 
 266 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 took two days for training, and then did 
 Mont Blanc : then I had a rest, and started 
 for the Matterhorn, and here I am back. 
 Nothing so wonderful, I think." 
 
 " I don't know about its being wonderful, 
 but it is deucedlj provoking. There, don't 
 interrupt me, for I have no wish to argue 
 the point — I simply state my opinion. I 
 sent you abroad .to travel, and you should 
 have kept on travelling till I called you 
 home." 
 
 " I didn't understand that ; and if you re- 
 collect, you only stipulated for Mont Blanc, 
 and I have thrown the Matterhorn in." 
 
 Mr. Grranby could not deny the fact. 
 
 " Of course, if you wish me to travel fur- 
 ther, you have only to say so," pursued 
 Ealph, relying on not being taken at his 
 word. 
 
 " Well, I do wish it," rejoined the Squire, 
 slightly mollified ; " and if you had waited 
 for my letter, you would have gone off to 
 Constantinople, instead of coming here. 
 However, we must now make the best of it. 
 "When can you start again?"
 
 MR. GRANBY IS A LITTLE BAFFLED. 267 
 
 " I can set off comfortably in a month." 
 
 " A month ! you must go to-morrow.'* 
 
 " Impossible, uncle ! Think what a 
 scamper I have just had 1 I shall be 
 ashamed to look a railway in the face for at 
 least a fortnight." 
 
 " I enter into your feelings on that point," 
 said Mr. Granby, magnanimously ; " but 
 the truth is, your being here puts me in 
 a very awkward position, for I have given 
 out you were not coming back for some 
 time. Now I expect you to get me out of 
 this dilemma, and can listen to no further* 
 demur." 
 
 Mr. Grranby's air, indeed, intimated that 
 demur would be useless. 
 
 " Give me a couple of days," urged Ralph. 
 " I really must have a rest." 
 
 A couple of days seemed to allow little 
 margin for mischief, and it could not be 
 denied that Ralph needed rest, so Mr. 
 Granby growled acquiescence. At dinner 
 he thought of questioning Ralph about 
 Letty, but he remembered the impolicy of 
 explanations, and kept clear of the subject.
 
 268 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 After all, lie miglit be alarming himself 
 without cause ; for if Ealpli's return was 
 suspicious, his readiness to set off again was 
 reassuring, and Mr. Grranby derived the 
 same impression from his own conversation 
 with Lettj. Nevertheless, he resolved to 
 keep a vigilant eye on Ealph during his 
 stay at home, and meanwhile to urge on 
 Bradley. 
 
 Next morning the steward found him 
 turning over the leaves of Bugdale^ a volume 
 which always denoted that he intended to 
 enter somebody's feelings. In fact, he was 
 considering how to touch those of Bradley 
 on the tenderest point — namely, the possi- 
 bility of his having a rival in his suit ; and 
 he conceived that his suspicions about Ealph 
 would be either confirmed or dispelled by 
 the answer. 
 
 A few minutes served for the morning's 
 business, and Mr. Granby then put his chin 
 at the proper degree of elevation, and ap- 
 proached the question. 
 
 "By-the-way, you know Mr. Ealph has 
 come back, I suppose ?" he said.
 
 MR. GRANBY IS A LITTLE BAFFLED. 269 
 
 " I heard so, Mr. Grranby, but I haven't 
 seen him yet," replied Bradley. 
 
 " I didn't intend him to return at present, 
 and I wrote to tell him to visit the East, 
 but he moved at such a pace that he was 
 back here almost as soon as I dispatched 
 my letter." 
 
 "Mr. Ealph was always nimble, and 
 doesn't let the grass grow under his feet." 
 
 An opening for a magisterial joke here 
 presented itself to Mr. Granby. 
 
 " Not much grass where he was, Bradley," 
 he said. " His feet have been in slippery 
 places — on the glaciers." 
 
 " That is true : but there are slippery 
 places everywhere, Mr. Grranby." 
 
 The Squire's face lengthened. 
 
 " Have you any reason to suppose there 
 is one here, and that my nephew has put 
 his foot in it?" he inquired. 
 
 " None whatever," answered Bradley. 
 
 Mr. Grranby breathed more freely. 
 
 " And how do you get on with your 
 own affair?" he said. "I think I have been 
 doing you some service with the young 
 person herself."
 
 270 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 Bradley opened his eyes at this announce- 
 ment. 
 
 " I happened to meet her/' explained the 
 Squire, "and I used the opportunity to 
 show her that I took a warm interest in 
 you. I hope what I said may have a good 
 effect. Indeed, she promised me to think it 
 over." 
 
 " Then you have truly done me a service 
 — a most kind one, Mr. Granby." 
 
 "And how have you got on yourself? 
 Did you speak to her father, and tell him 
 about the farm ?" 
 
 " No, but I told Mrs. Uivers." 
 
 " Ah ! that was better." 
 
 " Yes, she is a good Christian woman." 
 
 "She is a woman, and that is enough, 
 where there is a bit of match-making to do. 
 As far as you are concerned, it doesn't sig- 
 nify a straw whether she is a Christian or a 
 heathen." 
 
 " Nay, Mr. Grranby, I could have no fel- 
 lowship with the ungodly." 
 
 " Then you must eschew womankind, the 
 whole pack," exclaimed Mr. Grranby, his face 
 turning crimson.
 
 MR. GRANBT IS A LITTLE BAFFLED. 271 
 
 Bradley liad often been struck by the 
 Squire's disparagement of tbe sex, but this 
 outburst took him by surprise. 
 
 " I tell you, if you want to succeed with 
 them," continued the Squire, "you must 
 hold a candle to the devil." 
 
 " I defy the devil and all his works," ex- 
 claimed Eradley. 
 
 " Be it so, if you think you can get on 
 without him," returned Mr. Grranby, "I 
 simply state my opinion, and now I [will 
 take Mrs. Eivers at your estimate, as a good 
 Christian woman. That won't prevent her 
 giving due weight to the prospect of keeping 
 the farm, I presume ?" 
 
 " She was my friend before, but that 
 enabled her to speak more strongly in my 
 behalf." 
 
 " And what is the result ?" 
 
 " That is yet to be seen, but Mrs. Eivers 
 spoke hopefully to me, and I am to have an 
 answer in a couple of days." 
 
 Mr. Granby gave a little start. A couple 
 of days was the exact reprieve he had con- 
 ceded to Ealph, the term for which Ealph
 
 272 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 himself stipulated. The coincidence was 
 singular. Could Ralph be in communication 
 with Letty, concerting some scheme which 
 was to take effect in this time, and throw 
 both himself and Bradley over ? 
 
 " Is it possible that she may be carrying 
 on with somebody else, do you think ?" he 
 said. *' These girls are as deep as — " Mr. 
 Granby was about to make a strong com- 
 parison, but remembering what he deemed 
 Bradley's prejudices, he fell off a few points, 
 " as deep as a well. Have you ever noticed 
 anyone dangling after her ?" 
 
 " I have thought she was beloved by the 
 young man you pointed out to me, the 
 artist, but I believe I was misled." 
 
 The Squire's mind had been so occupied 
 with Ralph and Letty, that he forgot all 
 about Harry, and Bradley was obliged to 
 enter into particulars to bring him to his re- 
 membrance. 
 
 " And I think you said this young fellow 
 is staying at Berry Pomeroy ?" Mr. Granby 
 remarked, his thoughts now turned into 
 another channel.
 
 MR. GRANBY IS A. LITTLE BAFFLED. 273 
 
 Bradley replied in tlie affirmative. 
 
 " I should like you to find out something 
 more about him," resumed the Squire, 
 gravely. " As to your own afiair, I suppose 
 we must wait a couple of days, since that is 
 insisted on. But I will state my opinion, 
 and it is this : you should keep a watch on 
 the house, so that nobody may go in with- 
 out your knowing who they are, and nobody 
 pass out without your seeing where they go 
 to." 
 
 Here Mr. Granby took up Bugdale again, 
 and resumed his task of turning over the 
 leaves, persevering therein, till Bradley left , 
 the room. Then he laid down the volume, 
 and fell into a meditation. 
 
 VOL. I. 18
 
 CHAPTEE XXVII. 
 
 MRS. RIVEKS RECEIVES A COMMUNICATION. 
 
 Betty Kedge, behind her screen of bush, 
 overheard enough of what passed between 
 Letty and Ralph, to throw her into great 
 perplexity ; for she could not see how to 
 work the facts for the ends she desired, her 
 own advantage, and the gratification of her 
 enmity against the Grranbys. After all, 
 Letty was engaged in a love-affair with the 
 young squire, as her prophetic instinct 
 originally surmised; and it was not with 
 Harry Clayton, the pretender, but with 
 Ealph Grranby, the heir to the estate, that 
 the rustic beauty sought to link her fortune. 
 Still Bet, on reflection, reverted to her belief 
 in the ultimate success of Harry, and hence 
 thought it better to hold on to the object of
 
 MRS. RIVERS AND BETTY KEDGE. 275 
 
 a potential friend, for the remainder of her 
 hundred years, which according to her 
 present light, was to be done only by 
 wedding him to Letty. Should she, then, 
 acquaint him with what was going on ? 
 This could do no good at the moment, but 
 might be brought out effectively hereafter. 
 At present, nothing seemed open to her but 
 to make mischief, and for this purpose she 
 might use either Mrs. Eivers or Bradley, 
 who were apparently in the same interest. 
 Ultimately she gave the preference to Mrs. 
 Eivers. 
 
 Inventing a plea, she easily obtained an 
 audience, when she knew Letty was absent, 
 and was soon pouring her tale into an at- 
 tentive ear. 
 
 " You are sure Mr. Ealph said he would 
 come here this morning ?" observed Mrs. 
 Eivers, at the close of the recital. 
 
 " That were the part I didn't rightly hear, 
 missis," answered Bet, *'young Squire spoke 
 low, and seemed to I to be humbugging, yer 
 see, for he's got the poor lass in a pretty 
 taking, I tell yer. I couldn't understand all 
 
 18--2
 
 276 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 her said, but it were about being true to her 
 father, and her duty, and such like : what 
 girls always talk when they're going bad, 
 and means to go worser." 
 
 " You don't dare to say Miss Rivers has 
 such intentions,'' frowned the stepmother, 
 though her own admonitions to Letty quite 
 accorded with these insinuations. 
 
 " Me, missis ? Bless you, no, Ise sooner 
 bite off my tongue, and spit 'un out, than 
 say a word again she. But it's young 
 Squire ! You believe I, he's a bad bargain, 
 and up to no good; and young Miss is 
 better out un's way." 
 
 " That is for others to judge, Betty. But 
 I believe you are wishful for her well doing, 
 and it is proper and right to come and tell 
 me what you have seen, and if you learn 
 anything more, you can come again." Here 
 Mrs. Rivers presented Bet with a shilling. 
 " Only," she added, " remember that these 
 things are only for ourselves, not the whole 
 parish. A still tongue makes a wise head." 
 
 "And baint I called a wise woman, 
 missis ? Ah I there's a many secrets here,"
 
 MRS. RIVERS AND BETTY KEDGB. 277 
 
 Bet touched her furrowed brow, " and some 
 belonging to fine folks, too, I tell yer. Ha ! 
 ha ! ha ! I could tell strange things if I'se 
 minded." 
 
 Mrs. Rivers saw her out, and, though she 
 looked with no favour on Bet herself, felt 
 that such an auxiliary in her present diffi- 
 culty, was an acquisition. Besides, this ar- 
 rangement kept Bet away from Letty, who 
 was less able to cope with so crafty a woman. 
 Not but what Bet seemed to be really 
 interested about Letty, and in Mrs. Rivers's 
 opinion, had taken the best mode of pre- 
 serving her from the consequences of her own< 
 indiscretion. 
 
 Bet was a little obscure as to Ralph's in- 
 tention of coming that morning to the 
 Farm, and Mrs. Rivers could imagine no 
 object for such a visit. If the design was 
 to see Letty, he surely would have arranged 
 a meeting elsewhere, and she now remem- 
 bered that Letty had hurried out early, on 
 the plea of an engagement to accompany 
 Alice to a Bible class. Mrs. Rivers did 
 not suppose this errand was a pure in-
 
 278 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 vention, but she considered tliat Letty was 
 more likely to use the opportunity to meet 
 Ralph, than omit to tell him that she would 
 be absent at the time he proposed to call. 
 The conclusion, therefore, was that Bet had 
 misunderstood what was said, and that 
 Letty's position was more dubious than 
 ever. Altogether, affairs seemed so serious, 
 that Mrs. Rivers thought it her duty to go 
 at cnce in quest of her husband.
 
 CHAPTEE XXVIII. 
 
 ENGLISH HONESTY. 
 
 Letty did, as her step-mother supposed, 
 hope to meet Ealph before she returned 
 from the Bible class, but it was not with 
 this view that she undertook that expedi^ 
 tion. She absented herself from home 
 because delicacy made her shrink from the 
 trial of being there when Ealph, in fulfil- 
 ment of their arrangement, came to declare 
 his love for her to her father. While she 
 desired this explanation chiefly for the 
 satisfaction of her conscience, she wished it 
 also in order to preserve her from what had 
 now, during her momentary absence, ac- 
 tually occurred — the discovery of their se- 
 cret by her step-mother, when it would at
 
 280 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 once be revealed to her father, and any 
 action of Ealph's forestalled. 
 
 Ealph began to feel as anxious on the 
 subject as herself His uncle's determina- 
 tion to relegate him immediately to the 
 Continent, made the step, indeed, a neces- 
 sity, as he could in no other way be gua- 
 ranteed against Letty being forced into a 
 marriage in his absence, nor even arrange 
 with her for maintaining a correspondence. 
 So he no sooner despatched his breakfast 
 than he set off for Orchard Farm, 
 
 It was a brilliant morning, the fields wore 
 the varied livery of summer — here green, 
 here gold, here imperial purple, pasture and 
 corn and sandfoin, surrounded by festooned 
 hedges, sometimes flanked by coppices, and 
 dotted with trees. Ealph keenly appre- 
 ciated the country, but it was with the 
 appreciation of a sportsman, a love of the 
 fresh air, and freedom and scope for exer- 
 cise, and he took little note of the pictu- 
 resque. Nevertheless, this did imprint an 
 influence on his nature without his recog- 
 nising the ministry, and his feelings were
 
 ENGLISH HONESTY. 281 
 
 daily taking a larger and higher develop- 
 ment. 
 
 Time had been when he held high 
 notions about his social position, and what 
 it claimed, but he had passed into a new 
 condition of thought, and though the im- 
 mediate cause of the change was love, yet, 
 as he now walked along, and his eye took 
 in surrounding objects, he caught also from 
 the scene a perception of that whole world 
 kinship, which teaches us to forget the dis- 
 tinctions of rank, and at moments unbends 
 even the proudest breast. 
 
 The stars in their courses seemed to be 
 in favour of his errand, for he had not gone 
 far when he encountered Mr. Eivers, coming 
 along the road. 
 
 " You are back again, then, Mr. Ealph," 
 cried the farmer, heartily. "Why, you 
 beat the seven-leagued boots in the pace 
 you go, and take away our breath to read 
 about it. However, I welcome you home 
 again, and I must thank you too, for trying 
 to do me a service with Mr. Grranby." 
 
 " Nonsense ! who told you about that ?"
 
 282 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 replied Ealpli, half-blusliing for his good 
 deed. 
 
 " I heard it from a friendly quarter." 
 
 " Well, say nothing about it, only believe 
 1 should be too glad to do you a service, if 
 I could. It may seem a little swagger to 
 say so now, for I have come to ask a favour 
 from you — a great favour indeed." 
 
 " Not too great for me to be very willing 
 to grant, if it is a thing in my power." 
 
 Notwithstanding this encouragement, 
 Kalph, now that it came to the point, knew 
 not how to open his errand. 
 
 " I am very sensible of your good feeling 
 for me," he said, after this pause ; " but I 
 fear I shall task it all when I tell you I 
 have formed an attachment for Letty, and 
 have come to ask you to sanction it." 
 
 Here he half looked up, and was discou- 
 raged to see Mr. Eivers become very grave. 
 
 " Have you told this to Letty, Mr. 
 Ealph ?" the farmer asked. 
 
 " Naturally, I spoke to her first." 
 
 " And she returns your affection ?" 
 
 " It is my pride to believe so."
 
 ENGLISH HONESTY. 283 
 
 " I fear it is needless to ask you whether 
 you have mentioned the subject to Mr. 
 Granby?'' 
 
 " Your words show that you see the 
 obstacles to my doing so," answered Ealph, 
 in a deprecatory tone. "You know my 
 uncle's peculiar views and class prejudices — 
 for he proclaims them from the house-top ; 
 and you probably understand there are 
 reasons why I shouldn't wholly disregard 
 them." 
 
 "I thoroughly understand." 
 
 " I wish, on the one hand, to treat him 
 with proper consideration," pursued Ealpb, 
 " and I make this my first aim ; but at the 
 same time, I bear in mind — as much for 
 Letty's sake as my own — how much my 
 future position in life depends upon him ; 
 so I want to defer the disclosure of my 
 attachment till I see my way to removing 
 his possible objections." 
 
 " Believe me, they can never be removed," 
 rejoined Mr. Elvers, solemnly. *' You speak 
 with such good feeling, and your conduct is so 
 honourable, and, to tell the plain truth, I
 
 284 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 have always liked you so well, that it pains 
 me to say this. But it is better to look it 
 in the face. You can never marry Letty.'* 
 
 " Then I shall never marry anyone— 
 never be a free man, nor form a purpose in 
 life. But don't doom me to this fate — at 
 least to-day! Give me a year to try my 
 fortune." 
 
 " You ask of me what is impossible — to 
 countenance a clandestine engagement with 
 my daughter. Can you be so blinded by 
 the feelings of the moment, that with all 
 your sense of honour, you don't see how I 
 should disgrace myself by such conduct — 
 and disgrace also Letty and yourself. Be 
 convinced this maiTiage cannot be, and you 
 must consider the engagement at an end ; 
 don't compel me to send Letty to a dis- 
 tance." 
 
 "There is no occasion for that," said 
 Ealph, quickly. "I am to start on my 
 travels again the day after to-morrow, so I 
 shall be out of your way." He held out 
 his hand: "Grood-bye!" 
 
 " Grood-bye, Mr. Ealph. I am sorry we
 
 ENGLISH HONESTY. 285 
 
 part in this way, but you will live to thank 
 me for it." 
 
 " Not for this — never !" said Ealph. 
 
 But his air was less dejected as he walked 
 away.
 
 CHAPTEE XXIX. 
 
 PLIGHTED TROTH. 
 
 Though he could not help feeling disap- 
 pointed, Ealph half anticipated that Mr. 
 Eivers would meet his proposal with a 
 refusal, and, in the very moment when he 
 yielded to Letty's appeal, he framed a plan 
 for evading the consequences. This, if Mr. 
 Eivers proved hostile, was to secure Letty 
 by a secret marriage. 
 
 It now devolved upon him to carry out 
 his design, to which, by the promise he 
 exacted at the time, Letty stood pledged, 
 though without knowing to what she had 
 committed herself. And, though he saw 
 the project was open to grave objections, 
 yet, weighing all the circumstances of his 
 own position, and also the danger such a
 
 PLIGHTED TROTH. 287 
 
 suitor as Bradley presented for Letty, he 
 satisfied himself that it was justifiable, and 
 thus made himself happy in the thought 
 that he would soon be Letty's husband. 
 
 Instinct told him he would find Letty at 
 the usual spot, waiting to hear the result of 
 his visit to her father, and he hastened to 
 apprise her of their position. To his disap- 
 pointment Letty was not there, but he had 
 hardly crossed the meadow, when, casting a 
 look back, he saw her appear at the other 
 end. 
 
 Letty came up out of breath, which con- 
 strained her little mouth to show the pearls 
 within, while the quick walking heightened 
 her bloom, and altogether she looked so 
 charming as to force Ealph into an excla- 
 mation. 
 
 " You have been to the farm ?" she said 
 timidly. 
 
 " I met your papa on the road," replied 
 Ealph, clasping her hand as they walked 
 along. " He refuses to accept me as your 
 lover, Letty ; refuses even to withhold his 
 decision for a year."
 
 288 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " Then we are to part ?" 
 
 But she did not withdraw her hand. 
 
 " Can you think of parting ?" returned 
 Ealph. " No ! I know you better. I rely 
 upon you, I trust in you, dear Letty ; and 
 remember, you are to stand by me at all 
 risks." 
 
 " You hold me to that promise ?" 
 
 " As I hold to life. I consider it our vow 
 of betrothal. Was it not so ?" 
 
 " Since you say it, I will own I spoke in 
 that sense.'' 
 
 " My true, my loving Letty ! what confi- 
 dence your words give one ; what a response 
 they make to my trembling hopes. For I 
 come to urge you to confirm this vow by 
 one more solemn." Letty changed colour. 
 " Ah ! don't say I ask too much, for I can't 
 deny the charge. It is exacting your fullest 
 trust — the fulfilment of your whole vow, to 
 brave all risks." 
 
 " You will not require me to break my 
 duty to my father ?" said Letty, in faltering 
 accents. 
 
 "Not your duty, for that doesn't bind
 
 PLIGHTED TROTH. 289 
 
 you to all his punctilios, nor even all his ho- 
 nest scruples. Consider what is his objection 
 to my suit, dearest Letty. It is not in myself, 
 for he spoke of me in terms only too kind ; 
 nor is it in my condition in life. But it is 
 that his countenance of us may lay him 
 open to false imputations. And does duty 
 bind you to sacrifice me on that account, 
 when we can save him from such imputa- 
 tions by acting without this countenance ? 
 We owe a duty to each other, and in the 
 strength of this I entreat you to secure us 
 both by a secret marriage." 
 
 " Let me have time to think of it," said 
 Letty tremulously, " the proposal has come 
 upon me so suddenly, I have now hardly 
 power to think." 
 
 " My true love, how it grieves me to see 
 you distressed, and know it is through words 
 of mine. But we have no time to spare. 
 My uncle insists on my immediately going 
 abroad again, for a long tour, and I shall go 
 content — I shall be willing to part at the 
 church door — if I leave you my wife. Then 
 I shall know you are safe from Bradley, be- 
 
 VOL. I. Id
 
 290 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 cause I shall empower you, in tlie last re- 
 sort, to avow our marriage." 
 
 Letty sank lier face on his breast. 
 
 " Arrange it as you will," slie said, " I 
 will bring Alice with me." 
 
 Her consent enraptured Ealph. 
 
 "And shall I write to you through 
 Alice ?" he said eagerly. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 He folded her in his arms, whispered new- 
 vows in her ear, and then reluctantly allowed 
 her to depart.
 
 CHAPTEE XXX. 
 
 LETTY ON HER DEFENCE. 
 
 Mrs. Eivers looked through the farm- 
 yard, the meadow, and the garden, from one 
 end to the other, without finding her hus- 
 band, and was impatiently awaiting his ap- 
 pearance, when Letty, harrying home from 
 Ealph, came in. 
 
 *' I hope you are satisfied with your morn- 
 ing's ramble," she said, " that is, I hope you 
 have asked your conscience whether it is a 
 proceeding consistent with your duty as a 
 Christian, to say nothing of any other consi- 
 deration." 
 
 From the elated look which accompanied 
 this interrogation, Letty saw there had been 
 a discovery. 
 
 19—2
 
 292 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " I have no remark to make upon it," she 
 answered. 
 
 "I am glad you have so much propriety 
 left," rejoined Mrs. Eivers. "The Bible 
 class has preserved some good in you, if it 
 taught you only this ; and I am sure it 
 wasn't there you learnt deception." 
 
 " If I have practised deception, it was in 
 self-defence." 
 
 " To cover a wicked intrigue," retorted 
 Mrs. Eivers. 
 
 " Intrigue !" echoed Letty, her face flush- 
 ing. 
 
 " The term is no more than your conduct 
 justifies. But I presume you now know all 
 you are to expect from Mr. Ealph Granby, 
 and find that it is what I told you from the 
 first. Perhaps it was for this revelation you 
 were waiting, when you required a couple of 
 days to consider the answer you would give 
 Mr. Bradley." 
 
 " I don't wish to speak of Mr. Bradley, 
 nor of Ealph Granby neither, but you oblige 
 me to vindicate myself And when you ac- 
 cuse me of intrigue, I say the intrigue has
 
 LETTY ON HEU DEFENCE. 293 
 
 not been on my side, but on the side of 
 those who used every means to force me 
 into a hateful marriage. If I have done 
 anything wrong, it was done under this 
 terror ; and I asked for the two days' delay 
 solely to think over my position. I can 
 now give my answer — my final answer about 
 Luke Bradley." 
 
 "Here is your father," observed Mrs. 
 Eivers, "and you may justify yourself to 
 him." 
 
 Letty shrank from this ordeal. As her 
 father came in, she caught a glimpse of his 
 face, and saw that he looked very grave, and 
 even sad. His wife allowed him no time to 
 compose himself. 
 
 " What do you say to your daughter ?" 
 she exclaimed. " Have we spared pains to 
 bring her up in the path of rectitude, or in 
 teaching her to be content with the portion 
 appointed her ? And might we not suppose 
 that she could cry * my heart is not haughty, 
 nor mine eyes lofty ?' Yet she has been dan- 
 gling after just such a bait as leads so many 
 silly women to destruction !"
 
 294 DOWN IN DEVON, 
 
 " I know what has taken place," said Mr. 
 Elvers quietly. 
 
 "Is it possible?" exclaimed his wife. 
 ** Do you say you know she has been carry- 
 ing on a love affair with Ealph Granby ?" 
 
 " I am aware Ealph Granby has been 
 paying his addresses to her." 
 
 " Such addresses ! But how did you hear 
 of it? Who told you?" 
 
 *' One I fully rely upon — Ealph Granby 
 himself." 
 
 Letty made a bound across the room, and 
 threw her arms round his neck. 
 
 " You have been a little foolish, Letty," 
 said her father, pressing her to his breast, 
 " but it is ended now, and you must pluck 
 it out of your mind." 
 
 " It ends that way, does it ?'' cried Mrs. 
 Eivers. " But well it is no worse ! And I 
 can't help feeling that you are passing over 
 so grave a trespass too lightly." 
 
 " I wish it to be passed over, and to be 
 forgotten," rejoined her husband. " Mr. 
 Ealph leaves England the day after to-mor- 
 row, and Letty will give me her promise not 
 to see him in the interim."
 
 LETTY ON HER DEFENCE. 295 
 
 " She must say that she will never see 
 him again/' urged Mrs. Eivers. 
 
 Letty was silent. 
 
 " She won't bind herself to that, you see !" 
 cried her stepmother. 
 
 " It is more than I require," rejoined the 
 farmer, to show Letty the hopelessness of 
 success. " Mr. Ealph may be absent for 
 years, and she will be out of danger in two 
 days. You promise me for two days, Letty." 
 
 "Distinctly," answered Letty, not quite 
 satisfied that in her own breast she reserved 
 the time beyond. 
 
 " That will do," said her father. 
 
 Waiting to hear no more, Letty glided 
 from the room.
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 BRADLEY MAKES A DISCOVERY AND MOUNTS 
 GUARD. 
 
 Bradley was much impressed by Mr. 
 Granby's counsel to set a watch over the 
 farm, during the two days for which, by the 
 arrangement between Letty and Mrs. Eivers, 
 his suit was to be in suspension. The 
 Squire's innuendos about a rival revived his 
 suspicions, and there seemed to be no way 
 of ascertaining the fact, but by following his 
 advice. But to whom could he intrust a 
 task so delicate, and the execution of which 
 required so much tact ? At first, he thought 
 of Jack Eeeve, whom circumstances had 
 made acquainted with his position towards 
 Letty, as well as his antagonism to Harry, 
 and thus, in a manner, taken into his confi- 
 dence. But he shrank from talking about
 
 BEADLEY MOUNTS GUARD. 297 
 
 Letty to men ; it seemed as if it would bring 
 her under a cloud, and expose her to all the 
 jeers with which man ordinarily sharpens 
 his wits on woman. As these thoughts 
 passed in his mind, he walked in the direction 
 of the farm, when his eye suddenly fell on 
 Bet Kedge, standing, with the irrepressible 
 broomstick, in the door of her hovel, which 
 overlooked the farmhouse. Here was a sen- 
 tinel made to order, a guaranteed keeper of 
 secrets, a wise woman, and, by her own and 
 the public report, possessing supernatural 
 gifts besides. Bradley had taken no part in 
 the Squire's persecution of Bet, nor had h.& 
 ever asked himself whether he believed in 
 her, but witchcraft was mentioned in Scrip- 
 ture, so was soothsaying, the sister faculty — 
 only he reflected that Bet's league with the 
 powers of darkness, if it really existed, would 
 have nothing to do with his own employ- 
 ment of her in a manner perfectly innocent. 
 Even Heaven sometimes made use of evil 
 instruments, as in the case of Jehu. In 
 short, though he recoiled from the Squire's 
 notion of holding a candle to the devil,
 
 298 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 Bradley thouglit it allowable to let the devil 
 hold a candle to him. 
 
 " You have good neighbours over there, 
 dame," he said, as he came up ; "a good 
 religious house, after the pattern of the 
 centurion's, Acts x, verse 2." 
 
 " A}^ very well o* their sort," answered 
 Bet, curtly. " And I believe you wouldn't 
 mind to make one o' the family, Muster 
 Bradley, though it baint sartin sure you's 
 ever will. There's more than one or two 
 arter she, I tell yer," 
 
 " Do you say that of your own know- 
 ledge ?" 
 
 " Who's else's knowledge 'ud I get, mas- 
 ter?" 
 
 Bradley thought of an unmentionable 
 authority, but preferred the notion of na- 
 tural means. 
 
 " "Well, you can see from here all that 
 goes on," he said. 
 
 "I see plain enough, and her'll open other 
 eyes before long — ay, before many days." 
 
 " Look here, dame," rejoined Bradley, 
 suddenly, " if there is any guile on foot
 
 BRADLEY MOUNTS GUAED. 299 
 
 over there, you will be no loser to tell me of 
 it." And he pulled out his purse. 
 
 "There be guile, then — guile wrought 
 by gold, and naught but gold will cross it. 
 I must bury four poun' to gie yer luck." 
 
 " I'll have no dealings with darkness," 
 answered Bradley, in a halting tone, " but 
 for what service you can lawfully give, here 
 is the money," and he handed the exact 
 sum. , "Now you'll keep a watch for me 
 till the day after to-morrow." 
 
 " Yer right — that be the time," cried Bet, 
 catching at the inspiration. " Now I'se tell 
 yer — thou keep watch too. Young Squire's • 
 goin' on his travels the day arter to-morrow, 
 baint him ?" 
 
 " What has that to do with it ?" asked 
 Bradley. 
 
 A dismal laugh preceded Bet's reply. 
 " Don't thee lose sight of he till 's on the 
 road, that's all !" 
 
 With this injunction. Bet retreated into 
 her den, and slammed the door in the stew- 
 ard's face. 
 
 Bradley stood rooted to the spot. Could
 
 300 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 her warning have any warrant? Was it 
 possible that Letty had captivated Ealph ? 
 He recalled a dozen incidents which seemed, 
 now that he received the cue, to point to 
 this conclusion. To all appearance, it had 
 somehow or another even entered the mind 
 of Mr. Grranby, and Bradley now under- 
 stood his eagerness to see him the husband 
 of Letty, and why he was so anxious to get 
 Ealph out of the country. The whole reve- 
 lation passed through his mind like a flash 
 of light — a flash that blinded for an instant, 
 but left the situation clear. His first impulse 
 was to go in search of Ealph, and upbraid 
 him with his treachery. But a moment's 
 reflection suggested that this would only put 
 Ealph on his guard. He must be wary, and 
 meet subtlety with its match, carefully fol- 
 lowing Bet's counsel. Indeed, he resolved 
 not to rest with seeing Ealph on his road to 
 London, but to accompany him thither, and 
 even keep him in view till he started for 
 Paris. 
 
 Ealph's movements were watched as sedu- 
 lously by Mr. Grranby. Indeed, he was un-
 
 BRADLEY MOUNTS GUARD. 301 
 
 able to stir without finding himself under 
 the Squire's eye, or running against Bradley, 
 and he gradually came to perceive this fact. 
 He was, in truth, very sensitive about Brad- 
 ley, feeling that he had rather made use of 
 him in his addresses to Letty, so had not 
 been thoroughly honest; and he tried to 
 strike out some way of setting himself right. 
 But for the moment any avowal of his at* 
 tachment was impossible, and he decided to 
 leave things to their course, soothing his 
 conscience with the reflection that Letty 
 would have refused Bradley in any case, 
 and, consequently, that he had done him no ' 
 real wrong. 
 
 It was not till the next morning that 
 Bradley apprised Mr. Granby of his in- 
 tended expedition to town. They had 
 finished their business, and the Squire was 
 beginning to occupy himself with Stowe's 
 London, which, printed in old English letter, 
 defied him to make out a word. 
 
 "I think I shall journey up with Mr. 
 Ealph to-night," continued the steward,
 
 302 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 " and then I can see him off to Paris in the 
 morning — if he goes." 
 
 The Squire's hand stopped in the act of 
 turning over a new page of Stowe. 
 
 " If he goes !" he cried ; " of course he 
 will go ! Why shouldn't he ?" 
 
 " Men are unstable, Mr. Grranbj— -as un- 
 stable as water." 
 
 " Women are, confound them !" exclaimed 
 Mr. Granby ; " but a man " 
 
 " Is more so, if woman interferes. Didn't 
 a woman overthrow Samson, and a greater 
 than he — even David. Nay, was it not a 
 woman that brought a curse on all man- 
 kind ?" 
 
 " She couldn't bring a greater one than 
 herself," answered the Squire. 
 
 " I won't go that far, Mr. Grranby, for I 
 remember my own mother — a woman in- 
 deed ! and others I might name, who were 
 righteous enough to be an example to us all 
 — the Marys, Priscilla, and Dorcas." 
 
 " Now don't get on that ground," cried 
 the Squire, stiffly. " I enter into your feel- 
 ings, of course, but religion is a subject on
 
 BRADLEY MOUNTS GUARD. 303 
 
 whicli we can't agree. Let us go back to 
 my nephew. You don't suppose any Dorcas 
 has got hold of him ? That would be worse 
 and w^orse." 
 
 " I say not who has hold of him, but he 
 is in danger." 
 
 " Still meaning there is a woman at work, 
 and I believe you are right ; so go with him 
 to-night, and stick to him, and only say 
 good-bye when he is fairly launched in the 
 Paris express. By-the-way, you had better 
 start with him from this house, though I 
 won't prepare him for your company till the 
 last moment." 
 
 Accordingly, nothing was said on the sub- 
 ject to Ealph till a servant announced the 
 wagonette, when Mr. Granby inquired if 
 Bradley had arrived. 
 
 " Bradley is going to town," he continued, 
 in a careless tone, to Ealph : " so I told him 
 to bring his bag here, and you would take 
 him to the train." 
 
 Balph made no objection, though Mr. 
 Granby observed that a cloud spread over 
 his face, and, putting a bad construction on
 
 304 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 the sign, he congratulated himself on being 
 able to keep him under surveillance while 
 he remained in England. This disposed the 
 Squire to part with him in good humour, 
 and he walked to the hall-door to see him 
 off. Ralph took the reins, so that Bradley, 
 who jumped up first, had the interior of the 
 wagonette to himself, but Ralph talked to 
 him over his shoulder as they drove along. 
 Thus they reached the station, where they 
 were taken up by the train, and another 
 moment saw them on their way to the 
 metropolis. 
 
 Not much was said during the journey. 
 Bradley was moody, and, after a time, Ralph 
 lolled back in his seat, and fell asleep, 
 awaking only when they arrived at Pad- 
 dington. It was now early morning, and 
 he had five hours at his disposal before the 
 departure of the Paris express, so he sent on 
 his luggage to London Bridge, and then 
 stopped to breakfast at the hotel, telling 
 Bradley he should spend the morning in 
 rambling about town. 
 
 " Hadn't you better rest from your jour-
 
 BRADLEY MOUNTS GUARD. 305 
 
 ney ?'* suggested tlie steward, who was much, 
 jaded. " Eemember, you have another long 
 travel before you to-day/' 
 
 " Only a pleasant trip, and I am as fresh 
 as a lark," answered Ealph, " so good-bye." 
 And he sprang up. " My traps have gone 
 on, you know, and I sha'n't come back 
 here." 
 
 " But I won't part with you that way," 
 cried the steward. " I am ready for a walk 
 if you are, and then I will go with you to 
 London Bridge." 
 
 In vain Balph objected : this confirmed 
 Bradley in his suspicion that he meditated* 
 some trick, and, consequently, only rendered 
 him more alert. Finally Balph resigned 
 himself to the inevitable, and they went out 
 together. 
 
 If there had been room for doubt before, 
 Balph now felt that he was in Bradley's 
 keeping, and he even perceived a change in 
 his manner, as if a little would involve them 
 in a quarrel. Bradley, indeed, found it dif- 
 ficult to repress the bitter feelings in his 
 
 VOL. I. 20
 
 306 DOWN IN DEVON. 
 
 heart, for whicli Ralph may seem at first 
 sight to have afibrded provocation, though 
 his trespass was simply concealment, and he 
 had taken no unfair advantage of the stew- 
 ard. But Bradley considered he had abused 
 his confidence, and waited for the moment 
 of parting to load him with reproaches. He 
 walked by Ralph's side thinking how these 
 could be made most bitter, but all the time 
 maintaining his watch over him. Thus 
 they reached the city, and were winding 
 their way round St. Paul's, when, crossing 
 by Doctors' Commons, they became entan- 
 gled among omnibuses, and Ealph disap- 
 peared. Instantly Bradley understood that 
 he was foiled. He rushed about the tho- 
 roughfares searching and inquiring, but 
 without result : he could discover no trace 
 of Balph. At last he saw he had barely 
 left himself time to catch him at London 
 Bridge. He sprang into a Hansom, and 
 bribing the driver to speed, arrived as the 
 engine gave its jDremonitory whistle. He 
 fiew along the platform, examining all the
 
 BRADLEY MOUNTS GUARD. 307 
 
 carriages in succession, and as they moved 
 on, he again scanned each as it passed. 
 His eyes were lurid when he turned away : 
 Ealph was not in the train ! 
 
 END OF VOL. L 
 
 BILLINU, PKINTEK, (iUILDFORD.
 
 V*
 
 UNIVERSITY OP ILUNOIS-URBANA 
 
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 3 0112 045846844