harvest-supper to-morrow evening.' Now, will you come?"

"Nay," said Kenelm, reluctantly; "but if he only asks me in order to
gratify a very vulgar curiosity, I don't think I have much chance of
serving Will Somers. What do you say?"

"The Squire is a good man of business, and, though no one can call him
unjust or grasping, still he is very little touched by sentiment; and
we must own that a sickly cripple like poor Will is not a very
eligible tenant. If, therefore, it depended only on your chance with
the Squire, I should not be very sanguine. But we have an ally in his
daughter. She is very fond of Jessie Wiles, and she has shown great
kindness to Will. In fact, a sweeter, more benevolent, sympathizing
nature than that of Cecilia Travers does not exist. She has great
influence with her father, and through her you may win him."

"I particularly dislike having anything to do with women," said
Kenelm, churlishly. "Parsons are accustomed to get round them.
Surely, my dear sir, you are more fit for that work than I am."

"Permit me humbly to doubt that proposition; one does n't get very
quickly round the women when one carries the weight of years on one's
back. But whenever you want the aid of a parson to bring your own
wooing to a happy conclusion, I shall be happy, in my special capacity
of parson, to perform the ceremony required."

"/Dii meliora/!" said Kenelm, gravely. "Some ills are too serious to
be approached even in joke. As for Miss Travers, the moment you call
her benevolent you inspire me with horror. I know too well what a
benevolent girl is,--officious, restless, fidgety, with a snub nose,