it. If you are to do us a kindness, it must be done on my

terms.'

law.'

'Gerans shall get me the money at once out of my father-in

'You will not tell anyone what it is for: that is to remain a secret between us. Only Dennis must know; and, believe me, he will value the piano all the more when he knows it is yours.' 'Will he ?' exclaimed Rose. I am so glad to hear that.' Squire Gaverock and Gerans were out, so that Rose was unable to speak to them whilst Loveday was with her.

'I suppose your brother will be coming up in the evening,' she said. 'I will send the money by him.'

Then Loveday left.

Gerans and his father did not return till late in the afternoon. They had been out together in the boat. When Gerans went to his room to change his coat, Rose followed him.

'I want five-and-twenty pounds,' she said.

'Do you?' asked Gerans. Your wishes are moderate. I want a thousand, but I do not know where to find them.'

'I want the money at once,' said Rose. I have immediate need of it.'

'For what purpose?' asked he. There are no shops here. You have spent quite enough at Truro.'

'Never mind the object. I want and will have the money.' 'My dear Rose, you are welcome to it, as far as I am concerned.'

"The money

is mine,' said Rose.

'My father manages for you. He is your trustee. The guardianship of your dear self he has transferred to me, but not the trusteeship of your fortune.' He put his arm round her, to draw her to him and kiss her, but she was annoyed, and with a twist escaped his arm.

'It seems to me vastly strange,' said Rose, 'that I should have three or four hundred a year, and yet not be able to touch twentyfive pounds when I want them.'

Tell me what for, and I will ask my father to let you have the sum ?'

'I will not tell you. The reason is good enough: I want it.'
'But that is not a reason wherewith to convince my father.'
'I will give no other.'

Then you stand little chance of obtaining the money.'

'Do you mean to tell me that you refuse to ask him for it?' 'No, Rose, dear. I will ask, but he is not likely to consent.' 'Make him give it me.'

'I make my father!' Gerans fairly laughed at the idea. 'I thought that by this time you knew how resolute a man he is.' 'I will not be satisfied with twenty-five pounds now,' said Rose. I will have forty. Go and ask him for forty.'

'Be reasonable, my sweet blossom,' said Gerans. Anything that you desire in reason you shall have, but a sufficient reason must be shown. My father is responsible for your money, and he will not let you have it to throw away.'

'I am not going to throw it away.'

'What are you about to do with it?'

'I will not tell.'

'I have nothing of my own,' said Gerans good-humouredly, 'or I would gladly let you have what you want, and ask no questions; but with my father it is otherwise. He must know the why and wherefore of every penny spent.'

'Come with me,' said Rose. 'I will have it out with the Squire.'

She was very angry, and went down into the hall with her cheeks flaming and her pretty lips pursed. Gaverock was there. He had thrown himself into his chair without changing his clothes or washing his hands, which were stained with pitch. His hair was very rough, heaped in a thick tangle on his head. He was cleaning his gun, and the air in the hall was impregnated with the offensive odour. He threw the oiled, blackened rag into the fire.

'There are others than the maidens want keeping in order,' said Rose, looking at the gun, sniffing, and tossing her head.

"The maidens!' repeated old Gaverock. "They do indeed require looking to. Will you believe it ?—I had no butter with my bread for two or three days. I was told the cows had yielded badly. Then the maids were all laid up with a bilious attack, and had to take blue pill and be visited by the doctor. I found they had been guzzling at the clotted cream. That is why I had no butter. If my wife can't, or won't, look after them, you must do so, Mistress Rose. You are not here only as a beauty, but for business.'

"I am here now on business,' said she. I want moneyforty pounds.'

'Forty porpoises!' laughed Gaverock. going to get them?'

Whence are you

'From you. I must have money. It is mine, and I will have it. My father did not leave you my trustee to bully me, and deprive me of my money.'

'Halloo, Mistress Briar Rose! looked at her with astonishment. Yesterday; then again to-day.'

Showing your thorns?' He 'This is the second time.

'I want only fair treatment,' said Rose. I want money. will consent to take five-and-twenty pounds, but not one farthing less.'

'If you have any bills, bring them to me,' Gaverock said. 'But you shall not have the money without telling me the purpose for which it is destined.'

'That I will not tell you,' said Rose stubbornly.

'Very well!'

Gaverock put his hands into his pockets, threw his head back in the chair, and stretched out his legs their full length. The action was defiant, contemptuous; and Rose's blood flamed.

'You shall find me the money,' she said, 'or I will go to a lawyer, and get him to insist on your giving me up my own.' Gaverock turned his head, and looked at her; then laughed. Gerans, there is a mutinous spirit here that must be quelled, or your cruise will end in wreck.'

'I think, father, you might as well let her have something. You have just asked her to take the management of the house out of my mother's hands, and, as you know well, there must be money given her for housekeeping.'

'The money is not for housekeeping,' said Rose, whose bosom was heaving with the breath that panted, and whose heart was beating fast.

'Let me know her object, and, if I think it right, she shall have the money,' said the old man composedly. But, Gerans

A whistling woman and a crowing hen

Are good for neither God nor men.

This is not even a crowing barndoor fowl, but a strutting, blustering jenny-wren.'

Then there came a knock at the porch door.

"There is Penhalligan. I know his step and rap. Gerans, run and open to him,' said the Squire.

'Gerans shall not open the door!' exclaimed Rose angrily. 'As you can't manage your maidens, you order your son about. It is a servant's place to answer the door, not that of a gentle

man.'

'Nonsense, Rose,' said Gerans. 'How can you be so foolish? Penhalligan is a friend. One friend always flies to open to another.' Then he moved towards the door.

Rose rushed out of the room, ran upstairs, and locked herself into her own apartment, where she gave vent to her anger and disappointment in tears.

Presently Gerans came up and knocked at the door; she would not even answer, much less open to him, and he descended again.

She did not appear at supper, and again Gerans came to her door.

'I want nothing,' she said, in answer to his questions.

He hesitated a little while on the landing, and then said peremptorily

'Open the door!'

< 'No,' she answered; 'I am not coming down.'

'Open the door, Rose.'

'I will not.'

Then I will burst it open.'

She was alarmed, and obeyed. She stood, frightened, in the doorway; her hair dishevelled, and her eyes red.

'Rose,' he said in a gentle tone, 'you have been very foolish. You shall have the five-and-twenty pounds. My father has consented.'

'Who has got that out of him?' asked she eagerly. You?' 'Not I,' answered Gerans. That matters nothing. There, Rose, wash your face and come down.'

"Who persuaded your father?'

'Penhalligan reasoned with him. My father is quite open to reason, but he will not be defied and brow-beaten.'

'Penhalligan did it!'

'Yes. My father will furnish you with a regular allowance, paid quarterly, for you to dispose of as you see best.'

This is Mr. Penhalligan's proposal?'

'Yes, and a very sensible one.'

She stamped her foot angrily on the floor, and took a turn round the room, with teeth set and flashing eyes.

'Gerans,' she said, with heaving bosom, 'I do not know whether I most despise you or

'Or what?'

She turned sullenly away without answering.

CHAPTER XXIV.

A FOUR-LEAVED SHAMROCK.

DENNIS PENHALLIGAN was walking through the coombe next morning. The spring or early summer sun was streaming through the young leaves of the wood. Flies danced in the golden light. The dingle was fragrant with spring flowers. The bluebells were not over; the red-robin was in bloom. The fern was raising its red-furred shepherds' crooks out of the ground, ready to uncoil as the heat grew more generous; the speedwell threw up its blue spires.

The wood-doves cooed softly; a squirrel leaped among the interlaced boughs-his was an easy run overhead, for here the boughs were netted like coarse lace; as they were debarred from rising high, they spread laterally and formed a densely woven screen of branches, twigs, and foliage. A magpie screamed and rushed away. Dennis looked after it and laughed mockingly. 'One for sorrow; only one,' he said. His thoughts were weaving a plaiting like the branches above him; he was thinking of Rose. It seemed to him that he could understand her heart. She had never loved Gerans; she had been persuaded into taking him partly, perhaps, because she was comfortable at Towan, and did not know where else to go; partly induced by his good looks and easy good nature. She had not known in time that she was loved by him, Dennis, or she would have hesitated, perhaps have refused Gerans. Dennis was rejected only because he asked too late. He clung to this thought. He built out of it a hope that he was kindly regarded by Rose; that she harboured a secret liking for him in her heart-a liking which, under more favourable circumstances, might have unfolded into love. Now that she was married she had found out that she did not love Gerans. There was a void in her heart which could not be filled by such as he. Dennis had watched her face on her return from the bridal tour; he had been present at the quarrel on the arrival. He had seen her turn an angry, disappointed countenance on her husband.