Watersprings

tired a life. He did not often absent himself, even for a holiday. Howard was shown into the study which Mr. Sandys had improved and enlarged. It was a big room, with an immense, perfe

yourself; but I fail in mental grasp-I keep hammering away at details; that is my line; and after all it keeps one alert and alive. You know my favourite thesis-it is touch with human nature that I value, and I am brought into contact with many minds. I don't exaggerate the importance of my work, but I enjoy it; and after all, that is the point! I daresay it would be more dignified if I pretended to be a disappointed man," said the Vicar, with a smile which won Howard's heart, "but I am not-I am a very happy man, as busy as the fabled bee! I shouldn't relish a change. There was some question, I may tell you, at one time, of my becoming Archdeacon, but it was a relief to me when it was settled and when Bedington was appointed. I woke up in the morning, I remember, the day after his appointment was announced, and I said to myself-'Why, it's a relief after all!' I don't mean that I shouldn't have enjoyed it, but it would have meant giving up some part of my work. I really have the life I like, and if my dear wife had been spared to me, I should be the happie

Carlyle's that! Maud has her own little sitting-room-the old schoolroom in fact-which she will like to show you. I think it very necessa

or of all other influences and relations in the unknown background of her life. He wanted to know whom and what she cared about, what her hopes were, what her thoughts rested upon and concerned themselves with. He had never felt any such emotion before, and it was not wholly agreeable to him. He felt thrown off his balance, interfered with, diverted from his normal course. He wanted to do and say something which could clai

ll leave us quite free to talk. It's not a lack of any respect, Howard-quite the contrary; but these honest people down here pick up all sorts of gossip-in a quiet life, you know, a little gossip goes a long way; and even my good maids are human-I should be so in their place!

r Jack, and there is not the smallest guarantee that he would choose any of them. I think he will take his o

e me more. He is independent; it is my own temperament over again! You will forgive a touch of vanity

f money, which most young men have. I have to talk over their careers with a good many young men, and it generally ends in their saying they would like a secretaryship, whic

cellent!" he said, "a very human view

me. I don't know any young man who is so perfectly clear that he wants real work. He is not idle as many young men are idle, prolonging

bout that. I confess I have mostly seen the schoolboy side of Jack, and it delights one to know that

Mr. Kennedy is quite right. I believe that J

y a pleasure to find oneself mistaken. I confess I had not discern

his fun, and he is active enough;

academic and scholastic-something more intellectual! But I bow to your superior knowledge, Howard, and we must think of possible openings. Well, I shall enjoy that. My own money, what there is of i

Howard, "and if you have any interest in a particular

ar, "I will send a statement of the case to

irst?" said Howard. "You may depen

urther counsel. This is really most satisfactory. This matter has been in my mind in a nebulous way for a long time; and you enter the scene with your int

sin Anne was good enough to tell me last night-she laid no embargo on the news-and a few particulars about your inheritance will

fore the singular change in his position that his aunt's announcement had produced: a country

ep over and speak to the sexton. Maud would take Howard round the garden,

d to Maud, "We seem to have settled Jack's affa

understood what he was feeling. Jack doesn't like being interfered with, and he was getting to resent programmes being drawn up. Papa is so tremendously keen about anything he takes up that he carries one away; and then you

l. But I know that one mustn't trust first impressions. People in picturesque surroundings don't always feel picturesque. It is very

all. Now papa has got the gift of romance; every bit of his life is interesting and exciting to him-it's perfectly splendid-but Jack has not got that at all. I seem to understand them both, and yet I can't explain them to each other. I don't mean they don't get on, but neither can quite see what

used to make a great mess of it with my pupils at one time, by thinking one could talk them round; but one can't persuade people of things, one can only just

o too; and then something tiresome happens and I meddle, I meddle! Jack says I