"It is mine also." "And Francis too!" she quickly cried. "And Francis too--Francis Charles Christopher." It crossed his mind to wonder how she knew it was Francis, then remembered it must have been from the Acorns. Miss Upton had lifted her face, and was looking at him. "Why did your mother name you Francis?" she asked, rather sharply. "I was named Francis after my father's only brother. He was my godfather, and gave me his name--Francis Charles." And left me his money also, Mr. Grubb might have added, but did not. "I see," nodded Miss Upton, apparently satisfied. "You have been letting Lord Acorn borrow no end of money of you on the strength of his coming into the Netherleigh estate," she resumed, in her open, matter-of-fact way, that spoke so much of candour. Mr. Grubb hesitated, and his face slightly flushed. It did not seem right to enter upon Lord Acorn's affairs with a stranger. But she seemed to know all about it, and was waiting for his answer. "Not on the Netherleigh estate," he answered. "I have always told Lord Acorn that he ought not to make sure of that." "You would be quite safe in lending it," she nodded, a peculiar look of acuteness, which Mr. Grubb did not altogether fathom, on her face. "Quite." Some stir interrupted further conversation. The tinkering, as Miss Upton called it, had ceased, and the down-line was at length ready for traffic. "Where are my people, I wonder?" cried Miss Upton, rising and looking around. They came forward almost as she spoke--a man and a maid servant. The former took up the box she had been sitting on, and Mr. Grubb gave her his arm to the train, and put her into the carriage. "This is the first time I have seen you, but I hope it will not be the last," she said, retaining his hand, in hers when he had shaken it. "I am now on my way to Cheltenham, to spend a month, perhaps two months. I like the place, and go to it nearly every year. When I return, you must come to Court Netherleigh." "I shall be very much pleased to do so." Mr. Grubb had left her, and was waiting to see the train go on, when she made a hasty movement to him with her hand. "Perhaps I was incautious in saying that you were safe in lending money on the Netherleigh property," she whispered in his ear. "Take care you don't breathe a word of that admission to Acorn. He would want to borrow you out of house and home." Mr. Grubb smiled. "I will take care; you may rely on me, Miss Upton." And he stood back and lifted his hat as the delayed train puffed on. And it may be well to give a word of explanation whilst Mr. Grubb is waiting for _his_ delayed train, which is not ready to puff on yet.