ostensible management of the bank which bore his name, received secret advices which seemed to make desirable an interview with the new owner of Hurlock Chase. He rode over, therefore, to "The Hurlocks," with a predetermination not to like the man who had, or was supposed to have, brought ruin to his young friend Harry Rivers, and to limit his intercourse to the business of the bank; but before he had been half an hour in the old library of "The Hurlocks," and in the company of Jason Brooke, these prejudices and intentions were, if not entirely forgotten, at least laid aside. There was such a pleasant fascination in that gentleman's manner; so much apparent straightforward candour in his explanations; so much expressed feeling of almost sorrowful regard for his late opponent at law; so much regret that the young man had been so ill advised as to enter into a contest which every sane man must have known would terminate in defeat; and, finally, so much respectful homage paid to his visitor, that Mr. Gilbert was almost won over to his side, especially às the business negotiations not only took a favourable and profitable turn, but revealed to his astute comprehension, as a man of figures, that the new owner of "The Hurlocks" must have great wealth at his command. The results of this visit, therefore, were a determination on the part of Roger Gilbert to hold in abeyance his perhaps hastily formed opinions of his new neighbour, and an invitation to dine at Fairbourne Court on the following day.

From that day an intimacy sprung up between the two gentlemen, the groundwork of which Mr. Gilbert would perhaps have found a difficulty in defining; and a succession of familiar visits to Fairbourne Court, which were almost invited-at any rate, more than tolerated-by Mrs. Gilbert, on the plea that "Mr. Brooke, poor man, must be so lonely in that great old house of his, without wife or child to keep him company, and with no society, he being a stranger in the county;" and that, in short,

"it was a charity to open the doors of Fairbourne Court to him whenever he chose to look in."

With such kindly sentiments in operation towards him, it is not wonderful that Mr. Brooke soon did more than "look in." At first he had reasons or excuses, sufficiently numerous and valid, to give for these calls. At one time it was to consult Mr. Gilbert on certain projected improvements on his estate, or alterations in the old mansion; at another time it was to inquire respecting the character of one or other of his tenants; at another, to consult with Mr. Gilbert, who was a county magistrate, on the best means of putting down night poaching in the Chase. After a while, however, these excuses, or reasons, were dropped as unnecessary clogs on free intercourse; and the pleasure of an hour's conversation with his agreeable and intelligent and highly cultivated neighbours was flatteringly offered and politely accepted as the motive for these almost daily visits.

No one who has not experienced the ennui of a leisurely, not to say an idle life, in a remote country district, can enter into the strong feelings of relief caused by the occasional advent of a welcome visitor. Even Mr. Gilbert, who really had occupations which demanded some appropriation of time and attention, was glad to have another object to vary those pursuits; but to Mrs. Gilbert these visits of the new proprietor of " The Hurlocks" were even more satisfactory. She had felt herself looked down upon by the surrounding gentry of Sir Richard Whistler's stamp, and treated by them, when they did meet, with studied politeness, indeed, but with painful condescension. Now here was a man, a gentleman, of far more polished manners than Sir Richard; of more wealth (for Sir Richard, in spite of his baronetcy and old family, was known to be poor), and of almost as good a position in the county (so the good lady thought, in the simplicity of her heart) as Sir Richard, who really seemed desirous of paying homage to herself personally, and to her position in society.

Also, his visits were a real boon to her-so Mrs. Gilbert said— because they broke the monotony of long, dull mornings, while they lasted, and gave her something to think and talk about afterwards.

So, without taking any decisive action, both Roger Gilbert and his lady were very well content to let matters take their course. Clara was free; so, as far as they knew, was Jason Brooke. True, he was a widower; but this was scarcely an objection, or woe betide all poor husbands who had the infelicity of losing their wives. True, also, Mr. Brooke was twenty years or more older than Clara; but such matches were not rare, and Mrs. Gilbert had noticed that middle-aged husbands were more passionately fond of their young wives than where the ages were more equal. At all events, the disparity was on the right side; and if it should so turn out that Mr. Brooke were to make Clara an offer, and if it should also turn out that Clara were to incline her ear unto it, she, Mrs. Gilbert, would not be the one to make the difference in age an objection.

With these secret arguments, therefore, and almost all other circumstances in his favour, it is no wonder that Jason Brooke found himself, to his own surprise, perhaps, a welcome visitor at Fairbourne Court, and a frequent guest at Mr. Gilbert's table; his own solitary state, and the work of renovation going on in his own house, being a sufficient reason for his not at present reciprocating these hospitalities. He hoped, at some future day, indeed, when "The Hurlocks" had a mistress; so he said on one occasion, then suddenly stopped short, and relapsed into a silence more eloquent and expressive than many words would have been.

In truth, Mr. Brooke was not unsuspicious of the secret workings of the thoughts and imaginations of the hearts of his new friends. He had quick natural perceptions, and these had been sharpened by constant exercise. He was a shrewd calculator, too, and was

not in the habit of throwing away chances which might tell in his favour, without a good and sufficient equivalent in other and better chances. So, when, and not before, his acquaintance at Fairbourne Court had ripened into a sort of familiar and easy friendship, he ventured to remark, with much concern, on the delicate state of Miss Gilbert's health, and her evident lack of spirits. Then he devised various amusements on her behalf. Eventually he proceeded to recommend horse exercise as the surest restorative, and offered his own services, as an experienced and expert horseman (which Mr. Gilbert was not), as her companion. The offer was graciously and gratefully accepted; and thenceforth almost daily Mr. Brooke and Clara were seen, sometimes followed by a groom, but as often unattended, cantering through the park, or along the country roads around Fairbourne Court.

CHAPTER XVI.

AT FAIRBOURNE COURT.

MR. GILBERT sat in his office; for methodical habits of business hung about him at Fairbourne Court. In fact, some years of his younger life having been passed in the routine of the banking business of Gilbert and Company, this early training had given a tinge to his riper years. Until dinner-time, therefore, unless he had company, Roger Gilbert was generally to be found not only in his "office," but at his desk. He sat at his desk then-not that he had any employment for his pen, but because it was his custom. But though his hand was idle, his head was busy, and Jason Brooke was the theme of his thoughts. "He must have serious intentions;" this was the substance of the reflections which passed through his mind: "it is as plain as possible that

he intends to propose to Clara. And it is equally plain that Clara is disposed to be pleased with him. She has evidently resigned herself to forget Henry Rivers. I am glad of it. What could she do under the circumstances? It has been a pull upon

Good

her, poor girl, that's certain; but she has greatly improved in spirits since Mr. Brooke has paid her such attentions. girl! she is quite right and very wise.

"And Hurlock Chase is a fine property; improvable, too, to almost any extent, if a man has but the means. And Brooke has the means. And those ironworks-they are not to be despised. Upon my word, Clara will be a fortunate girl, after all. Not every girl picks up a second chance so soon. Singular, too, that it should be the same property. There's a fate in it—a providence, quite a providence.

"Yes, Brooke means it now, I am sure. He almost said as much this morning before going out with Clara. I should not wonder if he means to put the question to her this very morning, and that was why he dispensed with the groom-a very wise precaution."

We take for granted that a soliloquy something like the above was inwardly uttered by Mr. Gilbert, and that his exultant fancy was pluming its pinions for a fresh and more extended flight, when it received a sudden check, and the gentleman himself was interrupted in his calculations by the entrance of his footman.

"Mr. Henry Rivers, sir. Will you see him here? or shall I show him into the drawing-room?"

The unexpected explosion of a cannon (at a safe distance); an instantaneous flash of vivid lightning on a calm and quiet night, when we are thinking of anything rather than storms; a slight, tremulous shock of an earthquake, when we are quietly sinking into our first slumber for the night-these are all startling events; but not less startling, and almost equally unwelcome to Mr. Gilbert, was the announcement of this unexpected visitor;