block-book I saw the figure of a slight man in the careless morning-dress
of a gentleman, crossing the ruinous bridge in our direction, with
considerable caution, upon the precarious footing of the battlement, which
alone offered an unbroken passage.

This was a day of apparitions! Milly recognised him instantly. The
gentleman was Mr. Carysbroke. He had taken The Grange only for a year. He
lived quite to himself, and was very good to the poor, and was the only
gentleman, for ever so long, who had visited at Bartram, and oddly enough
nowhere else. But he wanted leave to cross through the grounds, and having
obtained it, had repeated his visit, partly induced, no doubt, by the
fact that Bartram boasted no hospitalities, and that there was no risk of
meeting the county folk there.

With a stout walking-stick in his hand, and a short shooting-coat, and a
wide-awake hat in much better trim than Zamiel's, he emerged from the copse
that covered the bridge, walking at a quick but easy pace.

'He'll be goin' to see old Snoddles, I guess,' said Milly, looking a little
frightened and curious; for Milly, I need not say, was a bumpkin, and stood
in awe of this gentleman's good-breeding, though she was as brave as a
lion, and would have fought the Philistines at any odds, with the jawbone
of an ass.

''Appen he won't see us,' whispered Milly, hopefully.

But he did, and raising his hat, with a cheerful smile, that showed very
white teeth, he paused.

'Charming day, Miss Ruthyn.'