'Did you never hear,' said her hostess laughing, 'that—in certain circumstances— ' "Half enough for one, is always ' " More than just enough for two?" ' 'No,' said Josephine abstractedly. 'Who comes here that rides a light bay horse?' 'Everybody comes here. But I seldom look at their horses. Why?' 'One went by just now. I was looking at the horse, and I hadn't time to see the rider. He'll come in, I suppose. If Annabella knew all, she wouldn't care so much about this match; for just as soon as I marry John Charteris, papa'll sell Paul Charteris his piece of land; and that's a job Dane Rollo wouldn't like.' 'Why not?' said Hazel with a desperate calmness, and her heart beginning to beat so that it half took her breath away. 'Is it land Mr. Rollo wants for himself?' 'He wouldn't like anybody else to have it, you bet!' replied Miss Powder, at last getting up from the floor and shaking herself into order. 'I must go.' 'But I said, why not?' Wych Hazel repeated. 'There—you have ripped off your flounce.' 'I did that getting out of the phaeton. O well!—it'll have to go so till I get home. Everybody will know I didn't dress myself so on purpose; and besides, nobody will see it. Not till I get there. You haven't a needle and silk, have you, Hazel?' 'Yes, if you will come up to my room for it,' said Hazel, glad enough of an excuse to get her away. But Miss Powder had no mind to be spirited off. She had her own views, and excused herself. 'O thank you! but it's not worth while; and I can't wait, either. Well, I must go and meet my fate, I suppose.' 'What does Mr. Charteris want with more land?' said Hazel, arranging the torn flounce. 'O, to serve Rollo out, you know, for being so mean.' 'Is that it!' said Wych Hazel. 'How? I do not understand.' 'Why,' said Josephine, watching the door, which she expected would open to admit the rider of the bay horse whoever he might be, 'papa has a bit of land not worth much to him, just above Mr. Morton's ground that that pirate has bought; just above the mills. If Paul Charteris can get that, he will know what use to put it to. That will do, my dear, I dare say. I am awfully obliged for your care of my respectability.' 'What use?' said Hazel seriously. 'Here is one more tear——' 'O I don't understand those things. Do you know what _water power_ means?' 'Yes.' 'Well—if Paul Charteris gets that land,—and if I marry John Charteris he will—he'll cut off the water power. I don't know what it means, nor how he'll do it; but Mr. Rollo's mills will stop. And in that case, somebody at home will hate Paul Charteris! Well, she'd better have stood by me then.' The young lady detached herself at last, with a kiss to Wych Hazel, and bowled away in her little basket-wagon. CHAPTER VII. THE EMERALD.