CHAPTER V.
HALCYON DAYS.
It was still quite early in September when Gilbert Fenton went back to Lidford and took up his quarters once more in the airy chintz-curtained bedchamber set apart for him in his sister's house.

He had devoted himself very resolutely to business during the interval that had gone by since his last visit to that quiet country house; but the time had seemed very long to him, and he fancied himself a kind of martyr to the necessities of commerce.

The aspect of his affairs of late had not been quite free from unpleasantness.

There were difficulties in the conduct of business in the Melbourne branch of the house, that branch which was under the charge of a cousin of Gilbert's, about whose business capacities the late Mr.Fenton had entertained the most exalted opinion.
The Melbourne trading had not of late done much credit to this gentleman's commercial genius.

He had put his trust in firms that had crumbled to pieces before the bills drawn upon them came due, involving his cousin in considerable losses.