Very frequently young men would arrive with letters of
introduction, and would stay a few days with them while they
inspected the country.
Their household, too, had received an increase. A young Englishman
named Fitzgerald, the son of some very old friend of the Hardys,
had written expressing a very strong desire to come out, and asking
their advice in the matter. Several letters had been exchanged, and
at length, at Mr. Fitzgerald's earnest request, Mr. Hardy agreed to
receive his son for a year, to learn the business of a pampas
farmer, before he embarked upon his own account. A small room was
accordingly cleared out for him, and Mr. Hardy never had any reason
to regret having received him. He was a pleasant, light-hearted
young fellow of about twenty years of age.
One change, however, had taken place which deserves mention. Sarah
one day came to her mistress, and with much blushing and hesitation
said that Terence Kelly had asked her to marry him.
Mrs. Hardy had long suspected that an attachment had sprung up
between the Irishman and her servant, so she only smiled and said,
"Well, Sarah, and what did you say to Terence? The year you agreed
to stop with us is over, so you are at liberty to do as you like,
you know."
"Oh, ma'am, but I don't want to leave you.
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