"Are you sure that his lordship will come this road?" asked the stranger, carelessly. "I heard something of it this morning, but did not know it was settled." "Oh, quite so!" rejoined Mrs. Slopperton. "His lordship's gentleman wrote for post-horses to meet his lordship at Wyburn, about three miles on the other side of the village, at ten o'clock to-night. His lordship is very impatient of delay." "Pray," said the doctor, who had not much heeded this turn in the conversation, and was now "on hospitable cares intent,"--"pray, sir, if not impertinent, are you visiting or lodging in the neighbourhood; or will you take a bed with us?" "You are extremely kind, my dear sir, but I fear I must soon wish you good-evening. I have to look after a little property I have some miles hence, which, indeed, brought me down into this part of the world." "Property!--in what direction, sir, if I may ask?" quoth the doctor; "I know the country for miles." "Do you, indeed? Where's my property, you say? Why, it is rather difficult to describe it, and it is, after all, a mere trifle; it is only some common-land near the highroad, and I came down to try the experiment of hedging and draining." "'T is a good plan, if one has capital, and does not require a speedy return." "Yes; but one likes a good interest for the loss of principal, and a speedy return is always desirable,--although, alas! it is often attended with risk!" "I hope, sir," said the doctor, "if you must leave us so soon, that your property will often bring you into our neighbourhood." "You overpower me with so much unexpected goodness," answered the stranger. "To tell you the truth, nothing can give me greater pleasure than to meet those again who have once obliged me." "Whom you have obliged, rather!" cried Mrs. Slopperton; and then added, in a loud whisper to Lucy, "How modest! but it is always so with true courage!" "I assure you, madam," returned the benevolent stranger, "that I never think twice of the little favours I render my fellow-men; my only hope is that they may be as forgetful as myself." Charmed with so much unaffected goodness of disposition, the doctor and Mrs. Slopperton now set up a sort of duet in praise of their guest: after enduring their commendations and compliments for some minutes with much grimace of disavowal and diffidence, the stranger's modesty seemed at last to take pain at the excess of their gratitude; and accordingly, pointing to the clock, which was within a few minutes to nine, he said,-- "I fear, my respected host and my admired hostess, that I must now leave you; I have far to go." "But are you yourself not afraid of the highwaymen?" cried Mrs. Slopperton, interrupting him. "The highwaymen!" said the stranger, smiling; "no; I do not fear them; besides, I have little about me worth robbing."