that she should be treated in every way as a child of the family, and that no deduction should be made from the salary he was prepared to give on her account. Mr. Staunton closed at once with the offer, and Mr. Hammond was overjoyed at the result. He had written a hasty note to his wife on the subject, saying, that as he might not be at home on Wednesday, he would like her to send to the township for the new tutor and his little daughter. He had gone home by another route because he wanted to be present at races, and he had just got home half an hour before the Lindsays' man, George, came with his bad news.
"So you did not stay for the land sale," said Mrs. Hammond; "the races were too attractive."
"I wish I had stayed; I never thought of Hugh Lindsay going so high, I left my limit with my agent, and he of course would not take the liberty of going beyond it, and writes me that he's sorry, and all that nonsense."
"Was Lindsay at the sale himself?"
"No. Allan was there bidding for his father. The old man puts great trust in that boy."
"These low people can afford to pay more for land than you. Look at your expenses for labour that Lindsay gets his own family to do."
