?«
    He was away directly, in his heat and hurry, and was soon lost in the dusk
of evening. We who were left walked on towards the house.
    »Is Mr. Carstone's presence necessary to-morrow, sir?« said I. »Can it do
any good?«
    »No, miss,« Mr. Vholes replied. »I am not aware that it can.«
    Both Ada and I expressed our regret that he should go, then, only to be
disappointed.
    »Mr. Carstone has laid down the principle of watching his own interests,«
said Mr. Vholes, »and when a client lays down his own principle, and it is not
immoral, it devolves upon me to carry it out. I wish in business to be exact and
open. I am a widower with three daughters - Emma, Jane, and Caroline - and my
desire is so to discharge the duties of life as to leave them a good name. This
appears to be a pleasant spot, miss.«
    The remark being made to me, in consequence of my being next him as we
walked, I assented, and enumerated its chief attractions.
    »Indeed?« said Mr. Vholes. »I have the privilege of supporting an aged
father in the Vale of Taunton - his native place - and I admire that country
very much. I had no idea there was anything so attractive here.«
    To keep up the conversation, I asked Mr. Vholes if he would like to live
altogether in the country?
    »There, miss,« said he, »you touch me on a tender string. My health is not
good (my digestion being much impaired), and if I had only myself to consider, I
should take refuge in rural habits; especially as the cares of business have
prevented me from ever coming much into contact with general society, and
particularly with ladies' society, which I have most wished to mix in. But with
my three daughters, Emma, Jane, and Caroline - and my aged father - I cannot
afford to be selfish. It is true, I have no longer to maintain a dear
grandmother who died in her hundred-and-second year; but enough remains to
render it indispensable that the mill should be always going.«
    It required some attention to hear him, on account of his inward speaking
and his lifeless manner.
    »You will excuse my having mentioned my daughters,« he said. »They are my
weak point. I wish to leave the poor girls some little independence, as