admiringly and showed little of her usual bashfulness. But Mrs. Goddard
seemed ill at ease and tried to keep out of the conversation as much as
possible.

"There have been great rejoicings at the prospect of your arrival," said
the vicar when the new-comer had been introduced to both the ladies. "I
fancy that if you had let it be known that you were coming down to-day
the people would have turned out to meet you at the station."

"The truth is, I rather avoid that sort of thing," said the squire,
smiling. "I would rather enter upon my dominions as quietly as possible."

"It is much better for the people, too," remarked Mrs. Ambrose. "Their
idea of a holiday is to do no work and have too much beer."

"I daresay that would not hurt them much," answered Mr. Juxon cheerfully.
"By the bye, I know nothing about them. I have never been here before.
My man of business wanted to come down and show me over the estate, and
introduce me to the farmers and all that, but I thought it would be such
a bore that I would not have him."

"There is not much to tell, really," said Mr. Ambrose. "The society of
Billingsfield is all here," he added with a smile, "including one of your
tenants."

"Are you my tenant?" asked Mr. Juxon pleasantly, and he looked at Mrs.
Goddard.

"Yes," said she, "I have taken the cottage."