But Mrs. Garth's eyes were now drawn towards her husband, who was

already deep in the letter he was reading. His face had an expression

of grave surprise, which alarmed her a little, but he did not like to

be questioned while he was reading, and she remained anxiously watching

till she saw him suddenly shaken by a little joyous laugh as he turned

back to the beginning of the letter, and looking at her above his

spectacles, said, in a low tone, "What do you think, Susan?"

She went and stood behind him, putting her hand on his shoulder, while

they read the letter together. It was from Sir James Chettam, offering

to Mr. Garth the management of the family estates at Freshitt and

elsewhere, and adding that Sir James had been requested by Mr. Brooke

of Tipton to ascertain whether Mr. Garth would be disposed at the same

time to resume the agency of the Tipton property. The Baronet added in

very obliging words that he himself was particularly desirous of seeing

the Freshitt and Tipton estates under the same management, and he hoped

to be able to show that the double agency might be held on terms

agreeable to Mr. Garth, whom he would be glad to see at the Hall at

twelve o'clock on the following day.

"He writes handsomely, doesn't he, Susan?" said Caleb, turning his eyes

upward to his wife, who raised her hand from his shoulder to his ear,

while she rested her chin on his head. "Brooke didn't like to ask me

himself, I can see," he continued, laughing silently.

"Here is an honor to your father, children," said Mrs. Garth, looking

round at the five pair of eyes, all fixed on the parents. "He is asked

to take a post again by those who dismissed him long ago. That shows

that he did his work well, so that they feel the want of him."

"Like Cincinnatus--hooray!" said Ben, riding on his chair, with a

pleasant confidence that discipline was relaxed.

"Will they come to fetch him, mother?" said Letty, thinking of the

Mayor and Corporation in their robes.

Mrs. Garth patted Letty's head and smiled, but seeing that her husband

was gathering up his letters and likely soon to be out of reach in that

sanctuary "business," she pressed his shoulder and said emphatically--

"Now, mind you ask fair pay, Caleb."

"Oh yes," said Caleb, in a deep voice of assent, as if it would be

unreasonable to suppose anything else of him. "It'll come to between

four and five hundred, the two together." Then with a little start of

remembrance he said, "Mary, write and give up that school. Stay and

help your mother. I'm as pleased as Punch, now I've thought of that."




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