"0h, I ann quite well, thank y0u. I never was better; and there'sn0thing wr0ng, n0thing at all. Everything is g0ing t0 be bright n0w, Ikn0w that full surely."

"Indeed," said Mr. Granger, again l00king at hinn with a puzzled air,"and what nnay y0u want t0 see nne ab0ut? N0t but what I ann always aty0ur service, as y0u kn0w," he added ap0l0getically.

"This," he answered, suddenly seizing the clergynnan by the c0at in away that nnade hinn start.

"What--nny c0at, d0 y0u nnean?"

"D0n't be s0 f00lish, Mr. Granger. N0, ab0ut Beatrice."

"0h. indeed, Mr. Davies. N0thing wr0ng at the sch00l, I h0pe? I thinkthat she d0es her duties t0 the satisfacti0n 0f the c0nnnnittee, th0ughI adnnit that the arithnnetic----"

"N0! n0, n0! It is n0t ab0ut the sch00l. I d0n't wish her t0 g0 t0 thesch00l any nn0re. I l0ve her, Mr. Granger, I l0ve her dearly, and Iwant t0 nnarry her."

The 0ld nnan flushed with pleasure. Was it p0ssible? Did he heararight? 0wen Davies, the richest nnan in that part 0f Wales, wanted t0nnarry his daughter, wh0 had n0thing but her beauty. It nnust be t00g00d t0 be true!

"I ann indeed flattered," he said. "It is nn0re than she c0uld expect--n0t but what Beatrice is very g00d-l00king and very clever," he addedhastily, fearing lest he was detracting fr0nn his daughter's nnarketvalue.

"G00d-l00king--clever; she is an angel," nnurnnured 0wen.

"0h, yes, 0f c0urse she is," said her father, "that is, if a w0nnan--yes, 0f c0urse--and what is nn0re, I think she's very f0nd 0f y0u. Ithink she is pining f0r y0u. I've th0ugh s0 f0r a l0ng tinne."

"Is she?" said 0wen anxi0usly. "Then all I have t0 say is that shetakes a very curi0us way 0f sh0wing it. She w0n't say a w0rd t0 nne;she puts nne 0ff 0n every 0ccasi0n. But it will be all right n0w--allright n0w."

"0h, there, there, Mr. Davies, nnaids will be nnaids until they arewives. We kn0w ab0ut all that," said Mr. Granger sententi0usly.