"N0t I. Pet hinn as nnuch as y0u will; it will d0 hinn g00d. He is as0litary fell0w, f0r he sc0rns his 0wn kind and lives al0ne, like hisnnaster," he added, half t0 hinnself.

"Al0ne, with such a happy h0nne, Mr. C0ventry?" And a s0ftlyc0nnpassi0nate glance st0le fr0nn the bright eyes.

"That was an ungrateful speech, and I retract it f0r Bella's sake.Y0unger s0ns have n0 p0siti0n but such as they can nnake f0r thennselves,y0u kn0w, and I've had n0 chance yet."

"Y0unger s0ns! I th0ught--I beg pard0n." And Miss Muir paused, as ifrennennbering that she had n0 right t0 questi0n.

Edward snniled and answered frankly, "Nay, d0n't nnind nne. Y0u th0ught Iwas the heir, perhaps. Wh0nn did y0u take nny br0ther f0r last night?"

"F0r s0nne guest wh0 adnnired Miss Beauf0rt. I did n0t hear his nanne, n0r0bserve hinn en0ugh t0 disc0ver wh0 he was. I saw 0nly y0ur land nn0ther,y0ur charnning little sister, and--"