The sun shone brightly, the crops ripened, the hum of the threshing-machine droned on the wind--all was life and happiness.

In the summer evenings pleasant groups met upon the lawn; the song, the jest went round; now and then an informal dance, arranged with much laughter, whiled away the merry hours till the stars appeared above the trees and the dew descended.
Yet to-day, as the two leaned over the little gate in the plantation and looked down upon the reapers, the deep groove which continual thought causes was all too visible on Cecil's forehead.

He explained to the officer how his difficulties had come about.

His first years upon the farm or estate--it was really rather an estate than a farm--had been fairly prosperous, notwithstanding the immense outlay of capital.

A good percentage, in some cases a high-rate of percentage, had been returned upon the money put into the soil.