department.  Let him succeed in growing apple-trees and pear-trees weighed down to the ground with choice fruit; let him produce enormous cherries by grafting, and gigantic nectarines upon his sunny wall, and acres of strawberries too large for the mouth.  After that they may all rot where they grow; he troubles his head no more.  This is more than his old friend Hope can stand; he interferes, and sends the fruit to market, and fills great casks with superlative cider and perry, and keeps the account square, with a little help from Mrs. Easton, who has returned to her old master, and is a firm but kind mother to him.

Grace Clifford for some time could not be got to visit him.  Perhaps she is one of those ladies who can not get over personal violence; he had handled her roughly, to keep her from going to her father’s help.  After all, there may have been other reasons; it is not so easy to penetrate all the recesses of the female heart.  One thing is certain:  she would not go near him for months; but when she did go with her father—­and he had to use all his influence to take her there—­the rapture and the tears of joy with which the poor old fellow received her disarmed her in a moment.

She let him take her through hot-houses and show her his children—­“the only children I have now,” said he—­and after that she never refused to visit this erring man.  His roof had sheltered her many years, and he had found out too late that he loved her, so far as his nature could love at that time.

* * * * *

Percy Fitzroy had an elder sister.  He appealed to her against Julia Clifford.  She cross-questioned him, and told him he was very foolish to despair.  She would hardly have slapped him if she was quite resolved to part forever.

“Let me have a hand in reconciling you,” said she.

“You shall have b-b-both hands in it, if you like,” said he; “for I am at my w-w-wit’s end.”

So these two conspired.  Miss Fitzroy was invited to Percy’s house, and played the mistress.  She asked other young ladies, especially that fair girl with auburn hair, whom Julia called a “fat thing.”  That meant, under the circumstances, a plump and rounded model, with small hands and feet; a perfect figure in a riding habit, and at night a satin bust and sculptured arms.

The very first ride Walter took with Grace and Julia they met the bright cavalcade of Percy and his sister, and this red-haired Venus.

Percy took off his hat with profound respect to Julia and Grace, but did not presume to speak.

“What a lovely girl!” said Grace.

“Do you think so?” said Julia.

“Yes, dear; and so do you.”

“What makes you fancy that?”

“Because you looked daggers at her.”

“Because she is setting her cap at that little fool.”

“She will not have him without your consent, dear.”

And this set Julia thinking.