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She paused, and looked around A man who had seen her from theof the workshops behind, came out and respectfully lifted his hat to her It was the first ti outside the house since her father's death

'Strooden, could the Old House be made a decent residence of, without much trouble?' she inquired

The mechanic considered, and spoke as each consideration coet, ma'aone to ruin?' 'Yes; I know' 'And that what's left may almost as well be, ma'am' 'Why es, that the whole carcase is full of cracks' 'Still by pulling down the inserted partitions, and adding a little outside, it could be ht-roomed house?' 'Yes, ma'am' 'About ould it cost?' was the question which had invariably come next in every co work his whole experience

To his surprise, Miss Aldclyffe did not put it Thean old houseone not to prompt as so instinctive in owners as hardly to require any pro at all

'Thank you: that's sufficient, Strooden,' she said 'You will understand that it is not unlikely some alteration ement of the affairs' Strooden said 'Yes,' in a co the life of Captain Aldclyffe, with you as the fore worked well

But now it es which have hitherto been left in your hands than did your late master's What I mean is, that he will directly and in detail superintend all' 'Then--I shall not be wanted, ma'am?' he faltered

'O yes; if you like to stay on as foreman in the yard and workshops only I should be sorry to lose you However, you had better consider I will send for you in a few days' Leaving him to suspense, and all the ills that came in its train --distracted application to his duties, and an undefined nuhts and untasted dinners, Miss Aldclyffe looked at her watch and returned to the House She was about to keep an appointment with her solicitor, Mr Nyttleton, who had been to Bud to Knapwater on his way back to London