extraordinary settlement," said Miss Thomson.

"My uncle always used to point to you as an instance of what
women could do if they tried, and I am sure he must have had you in his
eye when he felt so sure of my success in life. Could you, would you
teach me to farm, and I will keep your books, write your letters,
manage your household, be your factotum, if you will allow me. I have
studied agricultural chemistry, and if you would permit me to learn
from you the practical details of farming operations, I might really be
of use to you."

Miss Thomson shook her head. "My dear girl, you do not know what you
ask. Without capital, and a large capital, no one need think of taking
a farm in Scotland; and all those things that you offer to do for me
are precisely the things that I can do for myself, and I hope will be
able to do for the next ten years. I should be better for an assistant,
it is true, but it must be some one who can ride to market, buy stock,
sell to butchers, take or let grass parks, and oversee my working farm
steward, for I am getting rather old for such long rides as I have been
in the habit of taking on the farm. And, my poor girl, anxious
as I am to befriend you in your straits, and to encourage your honest
ambition, I have nephews and nieces, and grand-nephews and grand-nieces
of my own, who have all claims upon me. My two married sisters have
large families, and not very much to keep them on, so I have to help in
various ways. Do as you like, the burden of bringing up the next
generation is pretty equally divided among us, and I am only thankful
that Providence has so prospered me that I can be of use of the young
people. I have arranged that my nephew, John Forrester, is to come and
do for me what I cannot so well manage without help; and as I have no
idea of falling behind the high farming of the times, I have given him