"I must, dear. It is right-it is necessary. Anne herself would say so."

Miss Valery assented, much to Agatha's surprise.

"The only question then is what can I do? Nothing in the professions-for I have acquired none; nothing in literature-for I am not a genius; but anything in the clear, straightforward, man-of-business lineUncle Brian used to accuse me of being so very practical.-Anne," he added, smiling, "I wish, instead of my having to puff off myself thus, Uncle Brian were here to advertise my qualifications."

"Qualifications for what?" inquired Agatha, Miss Valery being silent.

"For obtaining from my friend here what I would at once have applied for to any stranger; poor Wilson's vacant post, as her overseer, land-agent, steward, or whatever the name may be."

"Steward!" cried Mrs. Harper, perfectly horrified at the word. "Surely you would never dream of being a steward ?"

Why not? Because I am unworthy of the situation, or as I fear my proud little wife thinks-because the situation is not worthy of me? Nay, a man never loses honour by earning his bread in honourable fashion; and Miss Valery herself said that for this office she required both a gentleman and a friend. Will she accept

me ?"

And he extended, proudly as his father might-yet with a frank independence nobler than the pride of all the Harpershis honest right hand. Anne Valery took it, the tears rising in her eyes.

"I could never have offered you this, Nathanael; but since you are so steadfast, so wiseYes! it is indeed, considering

all things, the wisest course you can pursue.

Only, I will agree to nothing unless your wife consents."

"I will not consent," said Agatha, determinedly.

There was an uncomfortable pause.

"I see in your plan no reason-no right," continued she, forgetting in her annoyance even the outward deference with which her sense of conjugal dignity led her invariably to treat Mr. Harper. "Why was I never told this before?"

"Because I never thought of it myself until this morning."

The exceeding gentleness of his tone surprised her, and restrained many more words, not over-sweet, which were issuing from her angry lips.

"The fact is, Agatha-I may speak before Anne Valery, whom we both love" "And who loves you both as if you had been her own kindred."

These words, so tremulously said, swept

away a little bitterness that was rising up in Agatha's heart against Miss Valery.

"It is necessary," Mr. Harper went on"imperatively so, for my comfort—that I should at once do something. And in choosing one's work, it always seemed to me there was great wisdom in the rule-' Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.' Many things I could not do; this I can, well and faithfully, as Anne will find. Nor need. I feel ashamed of being steward to Miss Valery."

His manly, dignified way of speech struck Agatha. She felt her spirit of opposition quaking on its throne. "But your father-What will they all say at

your sisters.

Kingcombe Holm P

Nothing that I cannot combat. My father will be glad of our settling near him in Dorsetshire."

"In Dorsetshire!" echoed Mrs. Harper dolefully; and thereupon fled her last visions

of a gay London home. Yet she already liked her husband's county and people well enough to bear the sacrifice with tolerable. equanimity.

"And whatever he says, whatever any one else says, I have no fear, if my wife will only stand by me, and trust that I do everything for the best."

His wife listened, not without agitation, for she remembered their first dispute, only a few days ago. Here was rising another storm. Yet either she felt weaker to contend, or something in Nathanael's manner lured her to believe him in the right. She listened-only half convinced, yet still she listened.

Anne Valery did the same, though she took no part in the argument. Only continually her eyes wandered to Nathanael, less with smiling heart-warm affection than with the pensive tenderness with which one