"Then he could not have made much stay at Eagles' Nest?" "He did not make any stay at it," replied Edwin Street. "I don't think he went down to Eagles' Nest at all. If he did go, he came back the same day, for he never slept one night away from this house throughout his sojourn." "But what could be his reason?" reiterated Edina, wonderingly. "Why has he gone away so soon again?" "He put it upon the score of his health, Miss Raynor. England does not agree with him. At least, he fancies it does not." "And who is living at Eagles' Nest?" "A Mr. Fairfax. He is a land-agent and steward, a thoroughly efficient man, and he has been appointed steward to the estate. His orders are to take care of it, and to renovate it by all possible means that money and labour can do. Mr. Atkinson was informed on good authority that it had been neglected by Major Raynor." "That's true," thought Edina. "The first thing Mr. Atkinson did on his arrival, was to inquire whether the estate had been well cared for and kept up since Mrs. Atkinson's death. I was not able to say that it had been: I was obliged to tell him that the contrary was the fact. He then questioned my brother, and other people who were acquainted with the truth. It vexed him: and, as I tell you, he is now doing all he can to remedy the late neglect." "I am very much surprised that Mr. Atkinson did not himself go down to see into it!" said Edina. "Long residence in foreign lands often conduces to indolent habits," remarked the banker. Edina sighed. Was her mission to be a fruitless one? Taking a moment's counsel with herself, she resolved to disclose its purport to Edwin Street. And she did so: asking him to give Charles Raynor a stool in his counting-house, and a salary with it. But Mr. Street declined. His very manner seemed to freeze at the request. A young man, brought up as Mr. Charles Raynor had been, could not possibly be of any use in a bank, he observed. "Suppose Mr. Atkinson were here, and had complied with my request to put him in?--what then?" said Edina. "In that case he would have come in," was the candid answer. "But Mr. Atkinson is not here; in his absence I exercise my own discretion; and I am bound to tell you that I cannot make room for the young man. Don't seek to put Charles Raynor into a bank: he is not fitted for the post in any way, and might do harm in it instead of good. Take an experienced man's advice for once, Miss Raynor." "It has spared me the pain of an interview with _him_," thought Edina, as she said good-morning to Mr. Street. "But what a strange thing that he should go away again without seeing Eagles' Nest!" PART THE THIRD. CHAPTER I. LAUREL COTTAGE.