Page 77 (1/1)

2 AUGUST THE TWENTIETH On the Saturday subsequent to Mr Nyttleton's visit to Knapwater House, the subjoined advertisement appeared in the Field and the Builder newspapers:-'LAND STEWARD

'A gentlerity and professional skill is required i about 1000 acres, upon which agricultural is are contemplated He must be a man of superior education, une Considerable preference will be shown for one who possesses an artistic as well as a practical knowledge of planning and laying out The remuneration will consist of a salary of 220 pounds, with the old manor-house as a residence--Address Messrs Nyttleton and Tayling, solicitors, Lincoln's Inn Fields' A copy of each paper was sent to Miss Aldclyffe on the day of publication The sa for a steward, ould live at the oldthe announceht the maiden; or was it merely e than common She remembered the conversation about architects and surveyors, and her brother Owen Miss Aldclyffe knew that his situation was precarious, that he ell educated and practical, and was applying himself heart and soul to the details of the profession and all connected with it Miss Aldclyffe ht be ready to take him if he could compete successfully with others ould reply She hazarded a question: 'Would it be desirable for Owen to answer it?' 'Not at all,' said Miss Aldclyffe peremptorily

A flat answer of this kind had ceased to alarm Cytherea Miss Aldclyffe's blunt ht of another man, whose name, in spite of resolves, tears, renunciations and injured pride, lingered in her ears like an old familiar strain

That

'Would it be of any use if Edward Springrove were to answer it?' she said, resolutely enunciating the naain in the same decided tone

'You are very unkind to speak in that way' 'Now don't pout like a goosie, as you are I don't want ood of the estate rather than to that of any individual The man I want must have beento London next week; it is mostly on this account' Cytherea found that she had mistaken the drift of Miss Aldclyffe's peculiar explicitness on the subject of advertising, and wrote to tell her brother that if he saw the notice it would be useless to reply