He does a great deal for Lord Maxwell now: writes for him, and helps to manage the estate; and next year, when the Tories come back and Lord Maxwell is in office again--" "Why, of course, there'll be plums for the grandson," said Mr.Boyce with a sneer.

"That goes without saying--though we are such a virtuous lot." "Oh yes, he'll get on--everybody says so.

And he'll deserve it too!" she added, her eye kindling combatively as she surveyed her father.

"He takes a lot of trouble down here, about the cottages and the board of guardians and the farms.

The Hardens like him very much, but he is not exactly popular, according to them.