While Rees Pennant and his two confederates in evil were passing an existence of feverish excitement in London, life at Carstow rippled on with the monotony of a brook in a plain. The only break that ever occurred in the quiet uniformity of Deborah’s daily duties was on the occasion of Godwin’s visits, which had become more frequent of late. He was thinking seriously of “settling down,” so he told Deborah soon after Christmas. He now spent every second Sunday at his mother’s house, and, by Deborah’s imperatively express command, had altogether given up making her his matter-of-fact offers of marriage, and spent much of his time at Carstow, away from the house. “Settling down?” echoed Deborah, laughing, when he made this announcement. “That seems rather an odd expression to apply to yourself, Godwin. You’ve never been anything else than settled down. Now you might, with some sense, apply that term to Rees.” “Rees, Rees, Rees,” repeated Godwin, impatiently. “You don’t mean to say that after all this time, you have Rees as much on the brain as ever.” “‘Out of sight’ is not ‘out of mind’ with us women,” answered Deborah, didactically. “Not when you live in the country, perhaps. If you lived in a big town you’d learn better how to rate people at their proper value.” “And you would go up, you think, and poor Rees down?” “Certainly, if you used the educational advantages of town life as you ought. But to come back to the point--when I say I intend to settle down, I mean to marry. I didn’t tell you about it before, because I knew it would distress you.” “Distress me, why?” “Well, everyone thinks more highly of the prize they’ve lost. So I knew that you, when you found I was engaged to somebody else, would have some regrets, however transient, at having thrown away your chances.” “You are very good, and in consideration of that goodness, I’ll shed all my tears in private.” “But if I don’t mind seeing them? If I should _like_ to see them?” “Then I shall know that you are a mere monster of selfish cruelty, and I shall keep them to myself all the more.” “Well, don’t you want to know who I’m engaged to?” “I _do_ know.” Godwin looked much astonished. “To the second Miss Brownlow.” He sat down in the next chair to Deborah, and stared at her in blank amazement. “But--but you’ve never seen me with her! I’m perfectly certain that in your presence I’ve never exchanged half a dozen words with her.” “No, but she is the very girl mamma and I picked out for you, as being admirably suited to you in every way--sensible, practical, straightforward and quite nice-looking enough.” “Quite nice-looking enough for me; I see.” “Now don’t be angry. The fact that you’ve chosen her proves that she _is_ nice-looking enough for you. And knowing how sensible you are, and how you always do the right thing, it was quite natural to expect that you would choose the right woman. When are you going to be married?”