Page 270 - The snake's pass

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258 the sxake's pass.
that is the time that Norah will be away. It will help
to pass it ! " and I sighed.
"A long time, indeed, but oh, what a time, Art! Just
fancy what you are waiting for; there need be no un-
happy moment, please God, in all those months."
Then I made him a proposition, to which he, saying
that my offer was too good, at first demurred. I rea-
soned with him, and told him that the amount was
little to me, as, thanks to my Great Aunt, I had more
than I ever could use ; and that I wanted to make
Norah's country home a paradise on earth— so far as love
and work and the means at command could do it
that it would take up all Dick's time, and keep him for
the whole period from pursuing his studies ; and that he
would have to be manager as well as engineer, and would
have to buy the land for me. I told him also my
secret hope that in time he would take all my affairs in
hand and manage everything for me.
" Buying the land will, I fancy, be easy enough," he
" Two of the farms are in the market now, and
said.
all round here land is literally going abegging. However,
I shall take the matter in hand at once, and write you
to London, in case there should be anything before
you get back." And thus we settled that night that
I was, if possible, to buy the whole mountain. I wrote
by the next post to Mr. Caicy, telling him that I had
a project of purchase in hand, and that Mr. Sutherland
would do everything for me during my absence, and
that whatever he wished was to be done. I asked him