"I suppose the Manor House is amongst the number?" observed his nephew, "I have been admiring it extremely. I cannot think why Hargrave does not come down here. Has he been since he came into the property?" "Yes--but only once, and then only for a short while; but you speak as if you knew him?" "A little," replied Clair, "he came home with us from Malta; but friendship, sometimes, ripen fast. He found out my relationship to you, which commenced our acquaintance; I was charmed with him--indeed, I scarcely ever met more variety in any character. Sometimes I could scarcely keep pace with his flow of spirits, and then he would fall into a fit of musing, piquing my curiosity to discover why so great a change should take place, as it were, in an instant--in short, I'd defy any one to get into his confidence. But you know him, sir?" "Yes," said Mr. Ware, "I knew him very well at one time; his father sent me with him to Italy, and in return, the generous boy obtained me this preferment. But I have not seen him now, I think, for six or seven years--though we write to each other occasionally. You must tell me more about him at your leisure, however, for he is a great favourite with Mary as well as myself; but now, I think, you must be ready for breakfast--Mary is waiting for us, I see. Afterwards, if you are not tired, we will pay a visit to the church--there are two or three monuments of the Hargrave family worth looking at." "You are very kind," replied Clair, "I am sure I feel better already with the fresh country air--and health after sickness is happiness itself, sometimes." At this moment, Miss Ware opened the glass door which led into the garden. She was dressed, with studied simplicity, in a black silk gown, with white muslin apron, and her cap, looking as white as snow, fastened round the head by a broad lilac ribbon; but the smile upon her face was the best of all, and was never wanting at the breakfast-table, for she always maintained that no one had a right to be dull after a good night's rest, or to anticipate the troubles of the day before they came. "Good morning, Edmund," said she to her brother, "and good morning, Arthur," giving her hand to her nephew. "I was just preparing to send your breakfast up-stairs, when I heard you had been out for more than two hours." "I am not sorry to save you the trouble of nursing me, aunt--I have had enough of that in London," said Clair, gaily, as he followed her to the morning-room, where breakfast waited them. The meal was dispatched with cheerfulness, and he amused his aunt by an account of his walk, and the guesses which it had allowed him to make of the character of their poorer neighbours, with whom she was herself well acquainted. After breakfast, Mr. Ware invited him to join his morning ramble.