seen him before consenting to give him a title at once, but his
father and Jenny wished it so much. Ah! come in here. Bindon said
Lucy Martin was a case for a lady."

Rosamond's hearty good-nature was much more at ease among ailing old
women than prim school-children, and she gave great satisfaction in
the cottages.

Julius did not of course come as a stranger, and had a general
impression as to names and families; but he had been absent, except
on short visits, for five years, so that Rosamond declared that this
was a staple of his conversation: "Then it was Tom Deane--no, it
was John Deane that married Blake's son--no, it was Blake's daughter
that died who is living in the next house."

They finished with a long and miry lane, lying along the valley, and
leading to the cottages of a little clan, the chief of whom seemed
to be a large-boned lively-eyed old dame, who, after minute
inquiries after "the Lady Poynsett," went on, "And be it true,
Master Julius, as that young gentleman of Squire Bowater's is one of
your passons?"

Julius admitted the fact.

"And be ye going to put he up in the pulpit to preach to we? 'Pon
my word of honour, says I to Sally when her telled I, we shall have
little Dick out of the infant-school next!"

"We're all young, Betty! Can't you put up with any one that is not
older than yourself! I'm afraid he would hardly be able to get up