"Alas!" said Sibylla, casting down her eyes in modest embarrassment, "it is little fitted to meet the eye of the world." "It needs a fresh setting, that's all; and they say there's an exquisite silversmith on the Scottish border. The railway brings him within twenty hours." A few arguments _pro_ and _con_--a few blushes--a few quotations from the love scenes of the Surrey, and it was finally arranged. At three, they were to meet at the foot of the lane, where a chaise was to be in waiting; and Frank Edwards was left by his faithless assistant to look after Alice Elstree for himself. The village of Wibbleton had not slept all night for thinking of the new inhabitant of the _cottage ornee_; and the landlord of the Rose and Crown had not been backward in singing the praises of his generosity and riches. "Them Chobbs has cotch another pigeon," said the hostler to the boots; "and a rare good thing they makes of that 'ere old house. The last tenant paid 'em two years's rent in forfeit; and this 'un will do the same." "They are the bullyingest, meanestest, lyingest fellies as ever I heard of," replied the boots. "Tom Chobbs, the eldest one, owes me no end of money; but there aint no use asking it, for the whole kit on them--the lawyer, the doctor, and the old corporal, his stepfather--would all swear they had seen him pay it." "They'll be found out some day, and the village cleared of them," replied the hostler; "and if they're in want of rope, I'll not grudge ere a halter in the stable." "But there he goes, poor young gentleman!--they'll not leave him a farden of money if they get him into their clutches." This pitying observation was made as Frank Edwards crossed over from the hotel, and knocked at the door of the great house, to pay his respects to The Chobb. Before he left the hotel, the landlord, with many apologies, had presented his bill for the dinner of the day before, which the military gentleman had forgotten to discharge. The door was opened, and he was shown into a parlour on the ground floor, and told to sit down till his arrival was announced. "Maister's just a-coming, sir," said the slipshod maid, again putting her head into the parlour where Frank was sitting; and in a few minutes The Chobb, the general, the lawyer, and the medical man, walked into the room. "I must say, sir," said The Chobb, touching his hat slightly, which he kept on while he spoke, "that this is rather extraordinary conduct, and needs explanation." "What do you allude to, sir? You asked me to call, and I now wait on you." "But you have not apologised, sir, nor rectified the mistake, if it _was_ a mistake," he added, looking for support to the general. "If it _was_ a mistake!" repeated that distinguished commander, looking very stiff and solemn. "Appearances are against it," chimed in the lawyer. "What is it all about, gentlemen?" enquired Frank Edwards, biting his lip.