The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-25
(Continued.)

''Sut not yet?"
 Ca was silent.
 i've must get some friends down here, Olive. You must have girls or your own age to stay here. It must be a bit lonely for you only having me"
 No" she said, '1 am not lonely. and want no friends-yet. ] want to be quiet for a little while-pres- ently@
 Presently you will want them!
 No. I think not, father, and yet I don't know. Yes, perhaps I shall. Besides, I think we ought. But it was not of that was thinking"
 T daresay the people around here will be calling soon."
 NO. I do not think so."
 "why?"
 well, you see, the farmers will not dare to call; they will think 1t presumptuous. As for the county people, they will not think it in- cumbent upon them to do so.'
 'No?"
 Two things will stand in the way of their doing so. First. you are what they call a dissenter, and that would be sufficient to ostracise us; and, second, they would regard us as of the nouveau rfche order, be- cause you have made your wealth by commerce"
 John Castlemaine laughed.
 'I do not imagine we shall be much poorer because of their lack of courtesy, Olive, still. hope you are mistaken"
 why, do you long for their socie- ty?"
 ''Oh. no; I was only hoping that broader and healthier ideas were coming into the community" T am fraid it is a vain hope,' said Olive why, just think. When the vicar called the other day he was simply stunned when you told him you were a Nonconformist, while when you told him that you intended building a chapel, thought he was going to faint
 "Yes, he did seem overwhelmed" said John Castlemaine.
 Before you told him these things, he spoke of his wife and daughters calling, but not afterwards. Neither, as matter of fact, have they called"
 ''Ah, but that is because of pure n--fx, AEr Lestrange is noted for his bigotry, and is not therefore a fair sample"
 "Of course there is an utterly diff ferent atmosphere here," said Olive. Not that it troubles me. The peo- pie whose intellectual outlook is so limited that the question of religious opinion influences social courtesies, are not very desirable companions. Still. we will have to bear it in mind in considering our future. As for by the way. are you very rich. fa- ther?"
 Yes" said John Castlemaine quiet ly; T suppose I am"
 That question will be inquired in- to. no doubt" said Olive, 'tand it may be that in time the minor county families will overlook our other fail- ing on account of your being a veal thy man"
 Aren't you bit cynical, Oliver"
 T was only wondering whether these people were worth considering, faf A car re q little bit about what is called soc- iety, and I have been thinking about other plans for the future.''
 What plans?"
 T have been trying to think what I shall do with my life"
 ''Yes?" said John .Castlemaine eagerly.
 "Yes- We cannot live here for ever idly; at least. cannot. Besides, it would not be right. Even if we were to take part in the social life of the county. could not content myself to be a mere butterfly. Fol lowing the hounds. going to dances, paying calls, and the rest of it, is not very interesting programme"
 No, it is not" John Castlemaine assented
 T love the country" said Olive, far more than I love the city, and and I want to live in the country. Be- sides, there is as much work to do here as there is in the city. Of an- ether kind, perhaps, but just as inn portant-"
 T think so. too; but what do you propose doing?"
 We have some responsibility to- wards the people here Especially those on the estate you have bought. As it is very large, that will involve q great deal of work"
 John Castlemaine nodded.
 But that is not all I should like the house to be-wen, a kind of cen ire of life"
 That sounds very we'll, but tell me what you mean in greater detail. Would you invite the villagers to it ? Would you give them dinners, and deuces?"
 Perhaps so, but I was not think ,nr of that so much. AS rule, peo-