‘Professional, That’s a step above trade at any rate.  How old is she?’

‘Eighteen or nineteen.’

‘Pretty?’

’Yes, I think so; most people do; but it is all a matter of taste.  Come, squire, judge for yourself.  Ride over and take lunch with us any day you like.  I may not be in; but her mother will be there, and you can make acquaintance with your son’s future wife.’

This was going too fast, however; presuming too much on the quietness with which the squire had been questioning him.  Mr. Hamley drew back within his shell, and spoke in a surly manner as he replied,—­

’Roger’s “future wife!”—­He’ll be wiser by the time he comes home.  Two years among the black folk will have put more sense in him.’

‘Possible, but not probable, I should say,’ replied Mr. Gibson.  ’Black folk are not remarkable for their powers of reasoning, I believe, so that they have not much chance of altering his opinion by argument, even if they understood each other’s language; and certainly if he shares my taste, their peculiarity of complexion will only make him appreciate white skins the more.’

‘But you said it was no engagement,’ growled the squire.  ’If he thinks better of it, you won’t keep him to it, will you?’

’If he wishes to break it off, I shall certainly advise Cynthia to be equally willing, that’s all I can say.  And I see no reason for discussing the affair further at present.  I have told you how matters stand because I promised you I would, if I saw anything of this kind going on.  But in the present condition of things, we can neither make nor mar; we can only wait.’  And he took up his hat to go.  But the squire was discontent.

’Don’t go, Gibson.  Don’t take offence at what I’ve said, though I’m sure I don’t know why you should.  What is the girl like in herself?’

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ said Mr. Gibson.  But he did; only he was vexed, and did not choose to understand.

’Is she—­well, is she like your Molly?—­sweet-tempered and sensible—­ with her gloves always mended, and neat about the feet, and ready to do anything one asks her just as if doing it was the very thing she liked best in the world?’

Mr. Gibson’s face relaxed now, and he could understand all the squire’s broken sentences and unexplained meanings.

’She is much prettier than Molly to begin with, and has very winning ways.  She is always well-dressed and smart-looking, and I know she has not much to spend on her clothes, and always does what she is asked to do, and is ready enough with her pretty, lively answers.  I don’t think I ever saw her out of temper; but then I’m not sure if she takes things keenly to heart, and a certain obtuseness of feeling goes a great way towards a character for good temper, I’ve observed.  Altogether I think Cynthia is one in a hundred.’

The squire meditated a little.  ’Your Molly is one in a thousand, to my mind.  But then you see she comes of no family at all,—­and I don’t suppose she’ll have a chance of much money.’  This he said as if he were thinking aloud, and without reference to Mr. Gibson, but it nettled the latter gentleman, and he replied somewhat impatiently,—­