’Yes.  For instance in real life the people who cannot help being in difficulties never interest me as much as the people who get out of them; and so I think most novels are stupid, because the men and women are all real to me.  There!’ he said, pulling up as they reached the top of an ascent, ’there are no difficulties in your way here.  What do you think of that?’

The hill-top gave a wide view over a rich, cultivated, inhabited country; its beauty was in the wide, generous eye-view and the painter’s colours that decked it; for which, broken ground in front and distant low hills gave play to the slant sunbeams.  Warm, rich, inviting, looked every inch of those wide-spread square miles.

‘Do you know where you are?’ said he in an enjoying tone.

‘I suppose near home,—­but it’s not familiar yet.’

’No, you are some miles from home.  Over there to the west, lies Dr. Maryland’s—­but you can’t see it in this light.  It’s two miles away.  Do you see, further to the north, standing high on a hill, a white house-front that catches the sun?’

‘Yes.’

’Mme. Lasalle’s, Moscheloo.  It’s a pretty place—­nothing like Chickaree.  When we reach the next turning you will catch a glimpse of Crocus in the other direction—­do you know what Crocus is?’

’O yes, the village.  Our house was brown, I remember that,—­and as you go up the hill Mr. Falkirk’s cottage is just by the roadside.  Did you tell them to leave Mrs. Saddler there?’

’She will tell them herself, I fancy.  Crocus is the place where you will be expected to buy sugar and spice.  It is some four miles from Chickaree on that side, and we are about five miles from it on this;’ and as he spoke he set the horses in motion.  ’I sent on a rescript to Mrs. Bywank, bidding her on her peril to be in order to receive you this evening.  Mrs. Bywank and I are old acquaintances,’ he said, looking at Wych Hazel.

’Dear Mrs. Bywank! how good she used to be.  I haven’t seen her but once since I left home.  I’m sure you have a great many worse acquaintances, Mr. Rollo.’

’I am at a loss to understand how you can be sure of that.  But I have some better.—­Miss Kennedy, I want you to give me a boon.  Say you will do it.’

‘I’ll hear it first.’

’Will you? that’s fair, I suppose; but if we were better friends, I should not be satisfied without a blank check put into my hands for me to fill up.  However,—­as I am not to have that honour on the present occasion I will explain.  Let me be the one to introduce you, some day, to one of your neighbours, whom you do not remember, because she came here since you went away.  Will you?’

’Why yes, of course, if you wish it—­only I will not be responsible for any accidental introduction that may take place first.’

‘I will,’ said Rollo.  ’Then it is a bargain?  I shall ask half a day’s excursion for it.’

’That is as much of a supplement as a woman’s postscript, Mr. Rollo.  However, I suppose it is safe to let you ask what you like.’