“A Captain James!  A captain in the navy! going to manage your ladyship’s estate!”

“If he will be so kind.  I shall esteem it a condescension on his part; but I hear that he will have to resign his profession, his state of health is so bad, and a country life is especially prescribed for him.  I am in some hopes of tempting him here, as I learn he has but little to depend on if he gives up his profession.”

“A Captain James! an invalid captain!”

“You think I am asking too great a favour,” continued my lady. (I never could tell how far it was simplicity, or how far a kind of innocent malice, that made her misinterpret Mr. Smithson’s words and looks as she did.) “But he is not a post-captain, only a commander, and his pension will be but small.  I may be able, by offering him country air and a healthy occupation, to restore him to health.”

“Occupation!  My lady, may I ask how a sailor is to manage land?  Why, your tenants will laugh him to scorn.”

“My tenants, I trust, will not behave so ill as to laugh at any one I choose to set over them.  Captain James has had experience in managing men.  He has remarkable practical talents, and great common sense, as I hear from every one.  But, whatever he may be, the affair rests between him and myself.  I can only say I shall esteem myself fortunate if he comes.”

There was no more to be said, after my lady spoke in this manner.  I had heard her mention Captain James before, as a middy who had been very kind to her son Urian.  I thought I remembered then, that she had mentioned that his family circumstances were not very prosperous.  But, I confess, that little as I knew of the management of land, I quite sided with Mr. Smithson.  He, silently prohibited from again speaking to my lady on the subject, opened his mind to Miss Galindo, from whom I was pretty sure to hear all the opinions and news of the household and village.  She had taken a great fancy to me, because she said I talked so agreeably.  I believe it was because I listened so well.

“Well, have you heard the news,” she began, “about this Captain James?  A sailor,—­with a wooden leg, I have no doubt.  What would the poor, dear, deceased master have said to it, if he had known who was to be his successor!  My dear, I have often thought of the postman’s bringing me a letter as one of the pleasures I shall miss in heaven.  But, really, I think Mr. Horner may be thankful he has got out of the reach of news; or else he would hear of Mr. Smithson’s having made up to the Birmingham baker, and of his one-legged captain, coming to dot-and-go-one over the estate.  I suppose he will look after the labourers through a spy-glass.  I only hope he won’t stick in the mud with his wooden leg; for I, for one, won’t help him out.  Yes, I would,” said she, correcting herself; “I would, for my lady’s sake.”

“But are you sure he has a wooden leg?” asked I.  “I heard Lady Ludlow tell Mr. Smithson about him, and she only spoke of him as wounded.”