54 COUSIN PHILLIS.
to think of my expensive schooling, my travels hither and thither, my heaps of scientific hooks, and I have done nothing to speak of. But it's evidently good blood; there's that Mr. Holman, that cousin of yours, made of the same stuff."
"But he's only cousin because he married my mother's second cousin," said I.
"That knocks a pretty theory on the head, and twice over, too. I should like to make Holman's acquaintance."
"I am sure they would be so glad to see you at Hope Farm," said I, eagerly. " In fact, they've asked me to bring you several times: only I thought you would find it dull."
"Not at all. I can't go yet though, even if you do get me an invitation; for the Company want me to go to the Valley, and look over the ground a bit for them, to see if it would do for a branch line; it's a job which may take me away for some time; but I shall be backwards and forwards, and you're quite up to doing what is needed in my absence; the only work that may be beyond you is keeping old Jevons from drinking."
He went on giving me directions about the management of the men employed on the line, and no more was said then, or for several months, about his going to Hope Farm. He went off into Valley, a dark overshadowed dale, where the sun seemed to set behind the hills before four o'clock on midsummer afternoon.
Perhaps it was this that brought on the attack of low fever which he had soon after the beginning of the new year; he was very ill for many weeks, almost many
