Mr. Houseman was not surprised at that: his own wife had but little intellect; yet had he seen her weigh two rival bonnets in mortal silence, and with all the seeming profundity of a judge on the bench. And now this young lady was doubtless weighing farms with similar gravity, care, and intelligence. But as this continued, and still she did not communicate her decision, he asked her point-blank which of the two she settled to wed: Neville's Court or Bolton Grange. Thus appealed to, Miss Peyton turned her great eye on him, without really looking at him, and replied,-- "You have made me very uneasy." He stared. She relapsed into thought a moment, and then, turning to Houseman, asked him how _he_ accounted for those two gentlemen making their wills. They were very young to make their wills all of a sudden. "Why," said Houseman, "Mr. Neville is a man of sense, and every man of sense makes his will; and as for Mr. Gaunt, he has just come into prospect of an estate; that's why." "Ah, but why could not Griffith wait till after the funeral?" "Oh, clients are always in a hurry." "So you see nothing in it? nothing alarming, I mean?" "Nothing very alarming. Two landed proprietors in love with you; that is all." "But, dear Mr. Houseman, that is what makes me uneasy: at this rate, they must look on one another as--as--rivals; and you know rivals are sometimes enemies." "Oh, I see now," said Houseman: "you apprehend a quarrel between the gentlemen. Of course there is no love lost between them: but they met in my office and saluted each other with perfect civility. I saw them with my own eyes." "Indeed! I am glad to hear that,--very glad. I hope it was only a coincidence then, their both making their wills." "Nothing more, you may depend: neither of them knows from me what the other has done, nor ever will." "That is true," said Kate, and seemed considerably relieved. To ease her mind entirely, Houseman went on to say, that, as to the report that high words had passed between the clients in question at the "Roebuck," he had no doubt it was exaggerated. "Besides," said he, "that was not about a lady: I'm told it was about a horse,--some bet belike." Catharine uttered a faint cry. "About a horse?" said she. "Not about a gray horse?" "Nay, that is more than I know." "High words about a horse," said Catharine,--"and they are making their wills. Oh! my mind misgave me from the first." And she turned pale. Presently she clasped her hands together,--"Mr. Houseman!" she cried, "what shall I do? What! do you not see that both their lives are in danger, and that is why they make their wills? And how should _both_ their lives be in danger, but from each other? Madmen! they have quarrelled; they are going to fight,--fight to the death; and I fear it is about me,--me, who love neither of them, you know."