"Business," answered Edward, smiling mysteriously.

"Business! why you have no coal-pits on these hills, have you? But why did you not dine at Allerton last night, to see the last of me?"

"Business again," answered Edward.

"Well, good bye. I suppose we shall

meet in the course of the winter. I shall begin operations at Storrcliffe as soon as possible."

They parted, and as Captain Rutherford passed through the village of Windyheugh, he saw Jenny Fordyce. He was immediately attracted by her beauty and the air which betrayed her knowledge of it, and he stopped to ask her some insignificant question.

"Has a gentleman on horseback been this way lately?" he said.

"Which way, sir?"

"That way," pointing down the road.

66

Going east, sir; I do na know. There

was one here speaking to my grandmother a while since, but I did na notice which way he went."

"Oh, ho!" said Captain Rutherford to himself as he rode on; "this is the sage Edward's business, is it? I could transact a little of that myself."

Mr. Marshall had returned by the time Edward reached Holmdean. He had not been able to accomplish the purpose for which he went, as his lawyer was on the point of starting for Paris to see a son who was dangerously ill. Mr. Marshall had, therefore, been obliged to put off consulting him upon matters connected with the proposed admission of Edward into partnership, and as no step could be taken till it was decided how much might be done for Edward, without prejudice to Arthur and Anna, everything was to go on as before, and no hint of his good fortune to be yet given.

Edward found Mr. and Mrs. Marshall pacing up and down the favourite walk

under the fruit-wall; they came towards him as soon as he appeared.

"What a wild-goose chase you have been upon, Edward," said Mr. Marshall, as they shook hands.

"Has Mrs. Marshall told you, sir; I meant to have had that pleasure myself."

"I had not much to tell," said Mrs. Marshall, "except that you would hardly eat, drink, or sleep you were so busy routing among those dusty papers; but did old Belle give you any information?"

"No information but this look;" and Edward put the two torn pieces of paper into Mr. Marshall's hand.

66

My dear boy, you have doubled my fortune! What do I not owe you? No one can dispute my claim any longer. But I shall leave Arthur to make use of it. I have plenty, and I cannot undertake the trouble of a new concern."

"Let me have the trouble, sir; I have not half enough to do."

"You shall have enough to do by-and-bye. Do not think, Edward, because my thanks are few that I forget all you have done for me already."

"This has been a fortunate accident no merit of mine, sir."

"Well, well, we shall see; these fortunate accidents are very convenient things, and I hope one will befall you some day," said Mr. Marshall, smiling significantly, in spite of his determination to do no such thing.

CHAPTER VIII.

Pleasure that comes unlooked for, is most welcome.

ROGERS.

AUTUMN was far advanced before Mr. Marshall's lawyer returned from abroad, and no event disturbed the peaceful monotony of life at Holmdean and Allerton. Edward steadily pursued the course he had marked out for himself; he never allowed an opportunity for active exertion to slip by, and he devoted his spare hours to studies, both general and professional, that he might be prepared to take advantage of any occurrence offering a chance of distinction. So strictly, too, did he observe his resolution with respect to Allerton, that Mr. Marshall began to think he had been mistaken in