'A thousand things!' he said heartily; 'and you remind me that I am a fool to allow myself to be disturbed about it. I was thinking of those hundreds of families. And I half forgot for a moment that the Lord thinks of them too. I believe he will take care.' 'Would you like to know how?' said Wych Hazel. The tone was indescribably sweet, but the eyes had gone down before his. 'Would I like it?' said Dane watching her. 'Yes! I am afraid I am foolish enough still to like to know that, if I could. But I believe it anyhow, Hazel.' 'Governor Powder sold the land to me.'— 'To you!' said Dane in great amazement. 'What did you buy it for?' 'I thought it was well it should be bought,' said Hazel demurely. 'When did you do that?' 'A good while ago. Before the sickness in the Hollow.' She got another look, if she could see it, which it was also worth while to get. After which Dane remarked sedately, 'I am curious to know how Mr. Falkirk liked that investment.' 'Mr. Falkirk never knew. It is a great comfort sometimes,' she went on, the loveliest roses waking up now all over her face, 'to have a little independent power. And to be able to act without one's guardians. Mr. Falkirk was not consulted,—any more than Mr. Rollo.' Rollo's lips twitched and curved, but on the whole he maintained a decorous composure. 'We don't know our privileges, Arthur,' he remarked. 'No,' said his friend concisely. 'How ever in the world came Governor Powder to let the lady have the land? Why he has refused half the county!' 'I do not know,' said Wych Hazel. 'I think I made him.' Listening to her, looking at her, Dr. Arthur thought that extremely likely. 'And did he tell you Charteris wanted it?' he said. 'O yes,—and that, perhaps, Mr. Rollo might.' 'But he did not know that he was playing into my hands, in letting you have it?' Rollo enquired. 'Of course not! I merely told him I wanted it more than Mr. Rollo, and would give more than Mr. Charteris.' 'Witchcraft!—when all's done,' said Dr. Arthur. 'Dane, when _your_ independent power is in the market, let me know.'—He followed them into the red room, and took a cup of coffee there, standing; but then went off at once to see some patient, promising to call for Rollo on his way home. And for once Wych Hazel would have been quite willing to have him stay. 'What would her "other guardian" say to her, for such meddling in his affairs? such tampering with masculine business?' She retreated behind her salver, and sat there sugaring Mr. Rollo's empty cup, but not counting the lumps this time. Rollo however hardly justified her fears. He did come and sit own beside her, and he did relieve her hand of the sugar tongs and kiss it, and from there the kiss did come to her lips; but it was all done so gently and gracefully and deferentially, as if he had been a knight and she a lady of olden time. 'How am I going to thank you, Wych?' he said.