CHAPTER XIV.

THE VERY ONE.

FARMER BLUFF'S answer came sooner than he expected.

Although Mrs. Rust had been deeply wounded by her hard-hearted brother's evident lack of affection, she had never cherished the least ill-will against him. She rather mourned to think that his evil ways should separate them whilst so many years of life to love each other were theirs.

But, as it chanced, this proposal that she should make her home with him, came very opportunely to the lonely, hard-worked widow. Her little girl, now just eleven, had grown-up very delicate; and in their one poor room in London, poor Maggie could not have the air and nourishment of which she stood so much in need. Nothing could be better for her than the free life of the fields and lanes.

Farmer Bluff read and re-read the letter, which was full of affectionate expressions, reminding him how they had played together in the years gone by, before they had begun their separate paths in life, and learnt what trouble meant. It seemed so wonderful to think that after these ten years of estrangement on his part, she should still care for him.

But it was just what Hal had said. "Sisters are amazingly forgiving—"

"Far more so than you deserve," conscience added, in a tone he could not choose but hear.

He contrived to send a message up to Hal that afternoon. One of the men happening to come in about the selling of some piglings, he at once seized the opportunity of letting "the young Squire" know the result of their joint penmanship. Hal came directly lessons were over for the day.

"Hurrah!" cried he as he entered. "Three cheers for Mrs. Rust!"

Then, after talking it over for a little while, they composed the answer, directing Mrs. Rust to pack her things together, and come down next week, to superintend the remove.

Of course, when Elspeth heard of this arrangement, she declared that she wasn't going to be "mississed over" by a widow woman who was so hard up that she was ready to snap at the first chance of a home. And the end of it was that the ill-natured woman cleared out of the house the very day that Mrs. Rust came in, leaving no provisions ready cooked, and all the work to do.

But Mrs. Rust made light of that, for there were eggs in plenty to be had; with the sweet, fresh country bread and butter, she and Maggie made a hearty meal, and after a short rest, she set herself to work to take old Elspeth's place.

When the Squire heard of it from Hal, however, he was very angry, and sent a woman up at once to help her with the work. "It isn't fair," said he. "She cannot possibly do it all—look after Farmer Bluff, and see to things about the dairy and farmyard, and get the cottage into order too."

Next afternoon, he went round with Hal to see what Mrs. Rust was like, after her ten years of widowhood.

He found her all that her girlhood had given promise of; tidy, respectful, and cheery—a thorough specimen of English matronhood. Meanwhile Hal made acquaintance with her little girl, who stood shyly near the window, watching Grip, and playing with the flowers she had gathered in the fields. But she was not shy long; for Hal's frank ways soon put her at her ease, and they became good friends.

A week later, two of the farm waggons, piled with furniture, rolled slowly across the yard, and up the road towards the gate of the wood. And that same evening, with many groans and grunts—but not a single oath, for little Maggie Rust was by—poor, gouty Farmer Bluff himself, in a bath-chair, with his two dogs tied behind, was wheeled to his new home. Next day, the future bailiff took possession of the farm; and the old life was a thing of the past.

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