Griffith laughed heartily as he read this document, which seemed to show Israel was determined that there should be no question of payment, provided only the sale could be accomplished.

'Do you approve of that, sir?' asked Israel.

"Quite, quite! Only I fear your customer, if you catch one, will think you ride an uncommonly high horse.'

6

And if at any time from this present speaking you receive a bonâ fide document like that, but filled up and signed and witnessed, and the five thousand banked, you will be satisfied to take it as a settled thing?'

'Not satisfied only, but pleased; pleased, Israel, to see how carefully you have secured me.'

Was it a sudden gleam of sunshine breaking through a cloud in the heavens that so suddenly made Israel's hard face seem transfigured, as he drew forth another paper, a counterpart of the first, but without blanks, and placed it before Griffith Williams's astonished-incredulous eyes?

'A good servant likes to please a kind master, even to the extent of anticipating his wishes. The job is done. Old Mrs. Williams has, as you there see, bought the mine, paid in the money, and got a counterpart of that dockement.'

CHAPTER XIII.

DIVIDING THE SPOIL.

Few things are more calculated to try the temper of our humanity than, while engaged in a process of condescending benevolence towards some inferior, to find him turn upon us and expose our movements and motives not only to the ridicule of the world but to our own.

Such was the fate of the amiable and excellent Mr. Williams, when he realised the full force of Israel's manipulation of him, as shown by the production of the com

pleted agreement-only one moment after the right to make such an agreement had been formally and irrevocably conceded.

And he had been studying Israel!

Griffith's first impulse was to snatch up from the table the agreement for the sale of the mine and tear it into a hundred pieces; but Israel's watchful eye and composed look warned him to pause and reflect before further committing himself.

The story was as yet known in its fulness only to Israel, who would certainly not care to enlighten the neighbours about the details if not provoked. Was it wise, then, to give the provocation that might lead to his being made the laughing-stock of all who knew him?

He saw, too, that Israel evidently did his best to modulate his rough voice and soften his stony features, in the desire to avoid anything like an aspect of triumph. Still, Griffith's own features reddened with shame as, in the hope of discovering some honest loophole for escape from the bargain, he found he was merely recalling, step by step, the processes by which Israel had guided himas if he were a mere puppet in his hands-direct to an appointed goal.

You will, perhaps, sir, walk down to the bank in the course of the day, and see that it is all right about the money?' said Israel, after a long pause-a most embarrassing one, surely, to anyone but himself.

Israel,' broke out his late employer in passionate anger, what is the meaning of this sharp practice with me? Have you suddenly discovered that I am a liar, vagabond, or rogue-one whose spoken word is not to be trusted?'

'No, sir, by no means,' replied Israel, with respect and deference.

Then it is you who aregoing too far, and stopped.

'Griffith felt he was

It's just this, sir. Seeing for some time past you had so much difficulty to make up your mind, and finding the delay partickler inconvenient and dangerous, I thought

I'd try to help you, when you did get into the mood for action.'

The serious tone in which these words were uttered, and the gravity of Israel's demeanour the while, could not disguise from his former master the contempt that breathed through them.

But it occurred to him that it might be Israel's policy, perhaps, to force from him at once whatever violent things he might be tempted to say in his present state of anger and suspicion; so he checked by a great effort the storm of bitter reproach that was struggling to break forth, and said to Israel with as much of calmness and dignity as the circumstances permitted, while his voice trembled, and his lips were unnaturally pale

Israel, you have only yourself to blame if I refuse at this moment either to accept or refuse the bargain you now profess you have made for me, even while you were also professing to be only trying to make it. What I shall do after I have had time to think, and to take counsel, you will doubtless hear in due time. Good morning.'

He went to the door, opened it, and waited for Israel to go.

Israel stood up, and just the slightest tinge of colour -more yellow, however, than red-suffused his face as he confronted Mr. Griffith Williams.

He moved a few paces towards that gentleman, as if he and not the door were his object. Then as he came close, his tall form erect, his naturally stern face deeper than ever Griffith Williams had yet seen it, in dark intensity and inscrutability of purpose, he said

"You owe me, I think, seven hundred and fifty pounds for commission. I will, if you please, call on you tomorrow for that.'

He bowed in his somewhat ungainly fashion, keeping his eyes fixed on Griffith Williams's face till he was quite outside the door, which was then suddenly slammed after him with terrific violence and noise. This did not, however, prevent Griffith Williams from overhearing a sardonic laugh from the retreating Israel.

That person's face was serious enough a moment after, as he reflected on all that had been done and said in so momentous an interview.

Presently he stopped at a house, one of the most conspicuous in the village for size and showiness. It stood apart on a little knoll, and was reached by a road that had once belonged exclusively to it, as was still shown by the two tall stone gate pillars, without gates, between which the road passed.

A large garden surrounded the house, where fruit, flowers, and vegetables were inextricably intermingled with distorted monstrosities, into which some naturally fine evergreens had been trained by the perverse art of the gardener.

The garden was but a foretaste of the house, with which it was in a kind of ugly harmony. It was filled with curiosities from every clime.

But of all the curiosities of the place, the mistress herself was the greatest curiosity.

She was of low origin, and had once actually worked in the mine under all the influences that accompanied such degrading female labour.

But her vigorous intellect and unstained character protected her, and commended her to the Overman, Jehoshaphat Williams, who offered marriage and was accepted.

Too late, Jehoshaphat found that, though his wealth raised him to an equality with his rich neighbours, nothing he could do would persuade the latter to invite his wife to their houses.

He hated her from that time—and did not conceal his hate-and so separation became inevitable.

Having no deep inner religious faith or fixed moral principle to elevate or guide her; the very strength of her mind and character, and the easy pecuniary circumstances she enjoyed (her husband having engaged to pay her five hundred a year when they separated), all tended to make her eccentric, morbid, and find pleasure in habits which, under more natural circumstances, she would have been the first to condemn and loathe.

Upon her, as upon Israel, the question of the mine had come as one of new life. They met frequently about it, at first without any kind of concealment, and on matters that were of no particular moment to any but themselves. But when Israel found her so much interested in the mine, he opened to her the same view of a brilliant future that he had suggested to Mr. Griffith Williams; and thus by the time he had grown sick of the hesitation and weakness of the one, he found the other ripe to take the place which he soon made for her.

All their later meetings and discussions had been at night, and had been so skilfully disguised, that Griffith Williams had not the least suspicion of them till he found himself face to face with their results.

Never had the aged lady looked with so little interest upon her curiosities as now, on this morning, when she is expecting, with all the anxiety of an unaccustomed and ardent speculator, Israel's return to her with the news of his success or failure as to the proposed purchase.

This is one of her ailing days, and she is in bed. But she doesn't mind receiving company on such occasions! She will even do no inconsiderable portion of her toilet before visitors-Israel for instance-who certainly cares as little about the matter as herself. From her bed, which is disposed expressly for that purpose, she can see far down the valley, and thus she saw Israel at last, coming up the hill, and rated him in her heart for his slowness and impassiveness.

6

'Does nothing ever move him out of himself, I wonder?' she says irritably. Why can't he either shake his head, or give a joyous wave of his hat? Look now at his face. Who could guess which way things have gone? Ah! I understand-nothing is settled. And it is I who am an old fool to be so eager!'

Then she remembered her nightcap, and threw that off, and tossed over her grey hairs and her shoulders a brightly variegated shawl, drew the bed-clothes round her, and waited; evidently troubling no further about her personal appearance.