"A great fancy for a little room, rather," replied her husband--"not much, I fear, for the duties of a squire. I know little of them; and happily we shall not be dependent on the result of my management. There is money as well, I am glad to say--enough to keep the place up anyhow." "It would be a poor property," replied his wife with a smile, that could not keep itself up. I have no doubt you will develop into a model farmer and landlord." "You must take the business part--at least till Corney is fit to look after it," he returned. But his wife's main thought was what influence would the change have on the prospects of Hester. In her heart she abjured the notion of property having anything to do with marriage--yet this was almost her first thought! Inside us are played more fantastic tricks than any we play in the face of the world. "Are the children to be told?" she asked. "I suppose so. It would be a shame not to let them share in our gladness. And yet one hates to think of their talking about it as children will." "I am not afraid of the children," returned his wife. "I have but to tell them not. I am sure of Mark as if he were fifty. Saffy might forget, but Mark will keep her in mind." When she returned to the dining-room Cornelius was gone, but the rest were still at the table. She told them that God had given them a beautiful house in the country, with hills and woods and a swift-flowing river. Saffy clapped her hands, cried, "Oh, mam_mah_!" and could hardly sit on her chair till she had done speaking. Mark was perfectly still, his eyes looking like ears. The moment her mother ceased, Saffy jumped down and made a rush for the door. "Saffy, Saffy, where are you going?" cried her mother. "To tell Sarah," answered Saffy. "Come back, my child." "Oh, do let me run and tell Sarah! I will come back _instantly_." "Come here," insisted the mother. "Your papa and I wish you to say nothing whatever about it to _any_ one." "O-oh!" returned Saffy; and both her look and her tone said, "Where is the good of it then?" as she stood by her mother's side in momentary check. Not a word did Mark utter, but his face shone as if it had been heaven he was going to. No color, only light came to the surface of it, and broke in the loveliest smile. When Mark smiled, his whole body and being smiled. He turned and kissed Saffy, but still said nothing.