Harry could make no answer, though I am sure he understood it all.  My lady wanted to get him to talk to her a little, by way of becoming acquainted with what was passing in his mind; and she asked him what he would like to have done with his money, if he could have part of it now?  To such a simple question, involving no talk about feelings, his answer came readily enough.

“Build a cottage for father, with stairs in it, and give Mr. Gray a school-house.  O, father does so want Mr. Gray for to have his wish!  Father saw all the stones lying quarried and hewn on Farmer Hale’s land; Mr. Gray had paid for them all himself.  And father said he would work night and day, and little Tommy should carry mortar, if the parson would let him, sooner than that he should be fretted and frabbed as he was, with no one giving him a helping hand or a kind word.”

Harry knew nothing of my lady’s part in the affair; that was very clear.  My lady kept silence.

“If I might have a piece of my money, I would buy land from Mr. Brooks; he has got a bit to sell just at the corner of Hendon Lane, and I would give it to Mr. Gray; and, perhaps, if your ladyship thinks I may be learned again, I might grow up into the schoolmaster.”

“You are a good boy,” said my lady.  “But there are more things to be thought of, in carrying out such a plan, than you are aware of.  However, it shall be tried.”

“The school, my lady?” I exclaimed, almost thinking she did not know what she was saying.

“Yes, the school.  For Mr. Horner’s sake, for Mr. Gray’s sake, and last, not least, for this lad’s sake, I will give the new plan a trial.  Ask Mr. Gray to come up to me this afternoon about the land he wants.  He need not go to a Dissenter for it.  And tell your father he shall have a good share in the building of it, and Tommy shall carry the mortar.”

“And I may be schoolmaster?” asked Harry, eagerly.

“We’ll see about that,” said my lady, amused.  “It will be some time before that plan comes to pass, my little fellow.”

And now to return to Captain James.  My first account of him was from Miss Galindo.

“He’s not above thirty; and I must just pack up my pens and my paper, and be off; for it would be the height of impropriety for me to be staying here as his clerk.  It was all very well in the old master’s days.  But here am I, not fifty till next May, and this young, unmarried man, who is not even a widower!  O, there would be no end of gossip.  Besides he looks as askance at me as I do at him.  My black silk gown had no effect.  He’s afraid I shall marry him.  But I won’t; he may feel himself quite safe from that.  And Mr. Smithson has been recommending a clerk to my lady.  She would far rather keep me on; but I can’t stop.  I really could not think it proper.”

“What sort of a looking man is he?”

“O, nothing particular.  Short, and brown, and sunburnt.  I did not think it became me to look at him.  Well, now for the nightcaps.  I should have grudged any one else doing them, for I have got such a pretty pattern!”