"'Least, I can pretty nigh neighbour it with a guess," said the farmer. "We an't good friends, Sir Austin, me and your son, just now--not to say cordial. I, ye see, Sir Austin, I'm a man as don't like young gentlemen a-poachin' on his grounds without his permission,--in special when birds is plentiful on their own. It appear he do like it. Consequently I has to flick this whip--as them fellers at the races: All in this 'ere Ring's mine! as much as to say; and who's been hit, he's had fair warnin'. I'm sorry for't, but that's just the case." Sir Austin retired to communicate with his son, when he should find him. Algernon's interview passed off in ale and promises. He also assured Farmer Blaize that no Feverel could be affected by his proviso. No less did Austin Wentworth. The farmer was satisfied. "Money's safe, I know," said he; "now for the 'pology!" and Farmer Blaize thrust his legs further out, and his head further back. The farmer naturally reflected that the three separate visits had been conspired together. Still the baronet's frankness, and the baronet's not having reserved himself for the third and final charge, puzzled him. He was considering whether they were a deep, or a shallow lot, when young Richard was announced. A pretty little girl with the roses of thirteen springs in her cheeks, and abundant beautiful bright tresses, tripped before the boy, and loitered shyly by the farmer's armchair to steal a look at the handsome new-comer. She was introduced to Richard as the farmer's niece, Lucy Desborough, the daughter of a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and, what was better, though the farmer did not pronounce it so loudly, a real good girl. Neither the excellence of her character, nor her rank in life, tempted Richard to inspect the little lady. He made an awkward bow, and sat down. The farmer's eyes twinkled. "Her father," he continued, "fought and fell for his coontry. A man as fights for's coontry's a right to hould up his head--ay! with any in the land. Desb'roughs o' Dorset! d'ye know that family, Master Feverel?" Richard did not know them, and, by his air, did not desire to become acquainted with any offshoot of that family. "She can make puddens and pies," the farmer went on, regardless of his auditor's gloom. "She's a lady, as good as the best of 'em. I don't care about their being Catholics--the Desb'roughs o' Dorset are gentlemen. And she's good for the pianer, too! She strums to me of evenin's. I'm for the old tunes: she's for the new. Gal-like! While she's with me she shall be taught things use'l. She can parley-voo a good 'un and foot it, as it goes; been in France a couple of year. I prefer the singin' of 't to the talkin' of 't. Come, Luce! toon up--eh?--Ye wun't? That song about the Viffendeer--a female"--Farmer Blaize volunteered the translation of the title--"who wears the--you guess what! and marches along with the French sojers: a pretty brazen bit o' goods, I sh'd fancy."