"Very; but I would not tell her so. She knows it quite enough." "She do," said Brother William; "and it's a pity; but I'm used to it. She always was like that, from quite a little un; and it frets me a bit when I get thinking about her taking up with any one. You don't know of any one, do you?" "Not that she's taken with," said Martha, in the quietest way. "There's the ironmonger's young man, and Colonel Sturt's Scotch gardener; but Fanny won't notice them." "No," said Brother William, biting a great half-moon out of a slice of bread-and-butter, and then looking at it regretfully, as much as to say: "See what havoc I have made."--"No, she wouldn't. I don't expect she'll have any one at all." "Oh, there's no knowing," said Martha, refilling the visitor's cup. "No; there's no knowing," assented Brother William; and there was silence for a few minutes. "You've never been over to see my farm, Martha Betts," said Brother William, then. "No; I have never been," assented Martha in her quiet way. "I should like you to come over alone, and see it," said Brother William; "but I know you wouldn't." "_No_; I would not," said Martha.--"Was your last cup sweet enough?" "Just right," said Brother William thoughtfully.--"But you would come along with Fanny, and have tea, and look round at the beasts and the crops?" "Yes," said Martha, in the most matter-of-fact manner, as if the proposal had not the least interest for her. "But Fanny would not care to come." "I'll make her," said Brother William quietly; and he went on ruminating and gazing sleepily at the presiding genius of the tea-table. Then Fanny came back, took a magazine from her pocket, and went on reading and partaking of her tea at the same time, till Brother William said suddenly: "Fanny, I've asked Martha Betts and you to come over to tea o' Friday, at the farm. Be in good time. I'll walk back with you both." Fanny looked up sharply, and was about to decline the honour, when a thought that made her foolish little heart beat, and a quiet but firm look from her brother's eye, altered her intention, and she, to Martha's surprise, said calmly: "Oh, very well. We will be over by four--if we can get leave." There was no difficulty about getting leave, for Fanny took the first opportunity of asking her mistress, and that first opportunity was one day when Lady Scarlett was busy in the study with Arthur Prayle. Lady Scarlett looked up as the girl paused and hesitated, after taking in a letter; and Arthur Prayle also looked up and gazed calmly at the changing colour in the handsome face. "What is it, Fanny?" said Lady Scarlett. "I was going to ask, ma'am, if I might go with Martha--on Friday--to my brother's farm--to tea. My brother would bring us back by ten; or if you liked, ma'am, I could come back alone much sooner, if you wanted me." "Oh, certainly, Fanny. You can go. I like you to have a change sometimes."