Moreover a drawing-room and dining-room were built on to Skimping's Lawn, though Alured declares they have spoilt the place, and nothing ever was so jolly as the keeping-room. We had a beautiful double wedding in the summer, in our old church, and since that I have come to make the old Hall homelike to my boy in the holidays.

People admired us, I fancy, but were alienated and disappointed, and we were quite willing then to have it so. Skimping's Farm was the unlucky name of the place, and Fulk would allow of no modification his resolution was to accept it all entirely. Now I love no spot on earth so well. It was very different then.

Nobody, however, thought it would be advisable for him to give up the New Zealand plan, nor did he ever mean it for a moment; indeed, he declared that he should go and prepare for us; for that we should very soon get tired of Skimping's Farm, and come out to him; meaning, of course, that our dear charge would be over.