Sylvia is prudently keeping every acre and farming as much as possible." She saw this was satisfactory to Bland, and she had no hesitation in letting him conclude what he liked from it.

It was not her part to caution him, and it was possible that if no other suitor appeared, Sylvia might fall back on George, which was a risk that must be avoided at any cost.

Ethel did not expect to gain anything for herself; she knew that George had never had any love for her; but she was determined that he should not fall into Sylvia's hands.

He was too fine a man, in many ways, to be thus sacrificed.
"But how can Mrs.Marston carry on the farm ?" Bland inquired.
"I should have said her trustees are doing so," Ethel answered carelessly.

"One of them went out to look into things not long ago." Then she moved away and left Bland with one difficulty that had troubled him removed..