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conduct in that character； and her remarks on that conduct； I think she will do me justice； and honor me once more with her esteem。 Should this be the result； I further hope that she and yourself will come to Raby； and that you will change that way of life which you have found so full of thorns； and prepare yourself to succeed to my name and place。 I am； your obedient servant；
〃GUY RABY。〃
〃There read that。〃
Amboyne read it； and approved it。 Then he gave a sigh； and said； 〃And so down goes my poor hobby。〃
〃Oh； never mind；〃 said Raby； 〃you've got one or two left in your stable。〃
Dr。 Amboyne went out； and passed through the hall。 There he found Mr。 Coventry and Miss Carden： the latter asked him； rather keenly； if the conference was over。
〃Yes； and not without a result： I'll read it to you。〃 He did so； and Grace's cheek was dyed with blushes； and her eyes beamed with joy。
〃Oh； how noble is； and how good you are。 Run！ Fly！〃
〃Such movements are undignified； and unsuited to my figure。 Shall I roll down the hill？ That would be my quickest way。〃
This discussion was cut short by a servant； who came to tell the doctor that a carriage was ordered for him； and would be round in a minute。 Dr。 Amboyne drove off； and Miss Carden now avoided Coventry： she retired to her room。 But； it seems； she was on the watch； for； on the doctor's return； she was the person who met him in the hall。
〃Well？〃 said she； eagerly。
〃Well； would you believe it？ he declines。 He objects to leave his way of life； and to wait for dead men's shoes。〃
〃Oh； Dr。 Amboyne！ And you were there to advise him！〃
〃I did not venture to advise him。 There was so much to be said on both sides。〃 Then he went off to Raby with the note； but； as he went； he heard Grace say； in a low voice； 〃Ah； you never thought of me。〃
Little's note ran thus：
〃SIR；I thank you for your proposal； and as to the first part of it； I quite agree； and should be glad to see my mother and you friends again。 But； as to my way of life； I have chosen my path； and mean to stick to it。 I hope soon to be a master； instead of a workman； and I shall try and behave like a gentleman； so that you may not have to blush for me。 Should blush for myself if I were to give up industry and independence； and take to waiting for dead men's shoes； that is a baser occupation than any trade in Hillsborough； I think。 This is not as politely written as I could wish； but I am a blunt fellow； and I hope you will excuse it。 I am not ungrateful to you for shooting those vermin； nor for your offer； though I can not accept it。 Yours respectfully；
〃HENRY LITTLE。〃
Raby read this； and turned white with rage。
He locked the letter up along with poor Mrs。 Little's letters； and merely said； 〃I have only one request to make。 Never mention the name of Little to me again。〃
Dr。 Amboyne went home very thoughtful。
That same day Mr。 Carden wrote from London to his daughter informing her he should be at Hillsborough next day to dinner。 She got the letter next morning； and showed it to Mr。 Raby。 He ordered his carriage after breakfast for Hillsborough。
This was a blow to Grace。 She had been hoping all this time a fair opportunity might occur for saying something to young Little。
She longed to write to him； and set his heart and her own at rest。 But a great shyness and timidity paralyzed her； and she gave up the idea of writing； and had hitherto been hoping they might meet； and she might reinstate herself by some one cunning word。 And now the end of it all was； that she was driven away from Raby Hall without doing any thing but wish； and sigh； and resolve； and give up her resolutions with a blush。
The carriage passed the farm on its way to Hillsborough。 This was Grace's last chance。
Little was standing at the porch。
A thrill of delight traversed Grace's bosom。
It was followed； however； by a keen pang。 Jael Dence sat beside him； sewing； and Grace saw； in a moment； she was sewing complacently。 It was more than Grace could bear。 She pulled the check…string； and the carriage stopped。
CHAPTER XXI。
Henry Little； at this moment； was in very low spirits。 His forge was in the yard； and a faithful body…guard at his service； but his right arm was in a sling； and so he was brought to a stand…still； and Coventry was with Grace at the house； and he； like her； was tortured with jealousies； and neither knew what the other suffered。
But everything vanished in a flood of joy when the carriage stopped and that enchanting face looked out at him； covered with blushes； that told him he could not be indifferent to her。
〃Oh； Mr。 Little； are you better？〃
〃I'm all right。 But； you see； I can't work。〃
〃Ah； poor arm。 But why should you work？ Why not accept Mr。 Raby's offer？ How proud you are！〃
〃Should you have thought any better of me if I had？〃
〃No。 I don't want you altered。 It would spoil you。 You will come and see us at Woodbine Villa！ Only think how many things we have to talk of now。〃
〃May I？〃
〃Why； of course。〃
〃And will you wait two years for me？〃
〃Two years！〃 （blushing like a rose。） 〃Why； I hope it will not be two days before you come and see us。〃
〃Ah； you mock me。〃
〃No； no。 But suppose you should take the advice I gave you in my mad letter？〃
〃There's no fear of that。〃
〃Are you sure？〃 （with a glance at Jael。）
〃Quite sure。〃
〃Thengood…by。 Please drive on。〃
She wouldn't answer his question； but her blushes and her radiant satisfaction； and her modest but eloquent looks of love； fully compensated her silence on that head； and the carriage left him standing there； a figure of rapture。
Next day Dr。 Amboyne rode up to the farm with a long envelope； and waved it over his head in triumph。 It contained a communication from the Secretary of the Philanthropic Society。 The committee were much struck with Mr。 Little's report； but feared that no manufacturer would act on his suggestions。 They were willing to advance L500 toward setting Mr。 Little himself up as a manufacturer； if he would bind himself to adopt and carry out the improvements suggested in his report。 The loan to bear no interest； and the return of the capital to depend upon the success of the scheme。 Dr。 Amboyne for the society； to have the right of inspecting Mr。 Little's books； if any doubt should arise on that head。 An agreement was inclosed； and this was more full； particular； and stringent in form than the above； but the purport substantially the same。
Little could not believe his good fortune at first。 But there was no disbelieving it； the terms were so cold； precise； and business… like。
〃Ah； doctor；〃 said he； 〃you have made a man of me； for this is your doing； I know。〃
〃Of course I used my influence。 I was stimulated by two spurs； friendship and my hobby。 Now shake hands over it； and no fine speeches； but tell me when you can begin。 'My soul's in arms； and eager for the fray。'〃
〃Begin？ Why as soon as I get the money。〃
〃That will come down directly； if I telegraph that you accept the terms。 Call in a witness； and sign the agreement。〃
Jael Dence was called in； and the agreement signed and witnessed； and away went the