promised to serve her, and I mean to keep my word. You will excuse me
for adding that my experience and discretion are quite as likely to be
useful to her as your enthusiasm. I know the world well enough to be
careful in trusting strangers. It will do you no harm, Mr. Moody, to
follow my example."

Moody accepted his reproof with becoming patience and resignation.
"If you have anything to propose, sir, that will be of service to Miss
Isabel," he said, "I shall be happy if I can assist you in the humblest
capacity."

"And if not?" Mr. Troy inquired, conscious of having nothing to propose
as he asked the question.

"In that case, sir, I must take my own course, and blame nobody but
myself if it leads me astray."

Mr. Troy said no more: he parted from Moody at the next turning.

Pursuing the subject privately in his own mind, he decided on taking
the earliest opportunity of visiting Isabel at her aunt's house, and on
warning her, in her future intercourse with Moody, not to trust too much
to the steward's discretion. "I haven't a doubt," thought the lawyer,
"of what he means to do next. The infatuated fool is going back to Old
Sharon!"




CHAPTER X.