"No, I have seen no place but this one--and it, I suppose, is not in the market." Old Marbury shook his head, decisively. "Not at any price!" he said. "But Rousby Hall has a woman for the heiress--she is here, now, young Mrs. Plater. Colonel Rousby, her father, might be willing to sell it, for a good price, and pass his winters in Annapolis, and his summers with his daughter, at Sotterly.... I do not know any other that could be had--Maynadier's is out of the question--and Plater's, and Fitzhugh's, and Snowden's, and Bladen's, and Ridgeley's--no, Rousby Hall is the only one.--Do you wish to see it?" "Yes--sometime before we leave here--just a glance. I would not wish to appear, yet, you understand--not until my affairs are more definitely arranged." "Very well," said Marbury. "Any help I can give is yours for the asking. Meanwhile, I can ascertain whether Colonel Rousby would consider selling." "Yes--it would be very kind," said Parkington, as he dismounted. "Meanwhile, not a word." "Hum-m!" thought Marbury. "I shall not be the one to tell it.... Going to settle here--maybe! He is not married--I wonder if Judith might take a fancy to him.... Hum-m!... She will have a very good sized dowery, and an Englishman does not despise such things.... Well, we shall see.... Hum-m!" And he went on to the wharf. And Parkington, watching him ride down the avenue, was thinking. "Let that idea sink in, Marbury. Sir Edward Parkington is considering settling here--and marrying--with your permission and a fitting competence. But Rousby Hall? There is not money enough won across the card tables, in all Maryland, to buy it,--and I have no other source of revenue.... I reckon, the girl herself will be sufficient; if I can win her, I will be content. Afterward, with father's generosity, we can consider Rousby Hall. And the girl is a beauty--ah, here she comes!--God, what a figure!" "Whither away, Sir Edward?" she asked, seeing that he wore riding boots. "No whither," he said. "I have just returned--your father and I were inspecting the fields." "You are a guest after his own heart!" she laughed. "Are you really interested, or is it chargeable to good manners?" "I am really interested--and one can learn much from your father." "Yes, that they can," she said enthusiastically. "None in the Colony is better qualified from actual experience." "And experience is what I want," he said. "You would not believe me, the other evening, that I am thinking seriously of making Maryland my home." "Of course, not!" she answered. "But I am in earnest," he insisted. She looked at him, a moment, in silence. What was the meaning of this move. What could be its object. That he intended to remain, she never for a moment believed, but, why pretend? Here was a problem too difficult for her to solve--she would have to tell Maynadier.