he family to retire thither on occasions when guests were not forthcoming, a

ed, had had the good taste to cover the satin couches with pretty, fresh-looking cretonne, and had had arranged hanging cupboards of old china until it had been transformed into a charming apartment, notwith

s: a tiny miniature lake, garnished with water-lilies, lay in the centre of the lawn; a group of old elm-trees was beside it; behind the house lay another lawn, and beyond were meadows where a few sheep were quietly grazing. Mr. Mayne, who found time hang a little heavily on his hands, prided himself a

later on; for, in common with the youth of his generation, he had a wholesome horror of early rising

the pampered youth. "By the bye, have you seen Darwin's work on 'The Formation of Vegetable Mould'? he declares that worms have pla

ther, dryly; "but all the same, I beg to observe, n

e. "I know my constitution better than to trust myself out before the world is properly aired and dried. I am thinking it is less a case of worms than of rheumat

tion as to the noisiness of his entrance convinced him at once that his father was in a

anxiously, and then sat down and turned out her work

r it; that habit of seeking for the early worm rather disposed him to somnolent evenings, during which his wife knitted and felt herself nodding off out of sheer ennui and dulness. These were not the hours she had planned during those years of waiting; she had told herself that Richard would read to he

innocently. "Am

our candles. Bessie, I think I should like some hot water to-night; I feel a little chilly." And Bessie rang

h alacrity. "Well, I don't mind joining you, and that's the truth,

, severely: nevertheless he pushed the whiskey to Dick 24 as soo

rded the handsome cut-glass decanter somewhat critically; "bu

turned Mr. Mayne, with ill-suppressed impatience. "It was all very well when you

What a fool he had been to be so late! it might lead to some unpleasant discussion. Well, after all, if his father chose to be

s sudden onslaught, and he was not slow to press his advantage. He had wanted to give

nued. "Of course, it is hard on you, Dick, having no brothers and sisters to k

rrupted Dick: "on the whole,

father, sharply: "we should not have had all this fo

on't quite understand to what you are referring." He was growing

t? It must be the gout, Dick: we had better send for Dr. Weatherby in the morning," continued the anxious woman, w

rathful. "What is it but fooling, I should like to know, for Dick to be daun

re never a young

ell in love with your mother, and stuck to her for seven or eight 25 years; but I did not make believe that I was br

a lesson out of my book,"

could be excessively provoking when he liked. "Don't I tell you it is time this sort of thing was stopped? Why, people will

pity you are saying all this to me just when I am going away and am not likely to see any of them for

ad said more than he had meant to say. He had not wished to hinder Dick's innocent enjoyments; but if he

dly, "but there, you and your mother know my bark is worse

hat, sir?" asked th

, and blustering a little in consequence. "Why, they have not a penny, one of them, and, if report be true, Mrs. Challoner's mo

true, R

k of Dick saddling himself with

, trying to speak coolly, but flushing like a girl over his words. "I think y

ed Mr. Mayne, feeling that he had gone a little too far. "If you had brothers and sisters it w

, cheerfully. He had recovered his coolness and p

oppose me too much," returned his father with an ominous pucker of his eyebrows,

usband's wrath. Mr. Mayne was as choleric as a Welshman, and had a reserve force of sharp cynical sayings that were somewhat hard to bear. He was disposed to turn upo

same she knew she had not seen the last of him. A few minutes afterward

her when he was ruffled or put out, and brought her all his grievances; surely this was the very

and bound up many a cut finger? and now he was a man, would she

m to the low chair beside her, into which

on me to-night? he cut up as rough

you, Dick, and is half jealous of the Challoners for monopolizing you. You are all we have, that's where it is,"

ick, with a touch of sullenness. "When the pater is in this humor it is no use saying anyth

ng so absurdly boyish in Dick's appearance, such a ludicrous contrast between the manliness of his speech and his smooth cheek; the little fringe of hirsute ornament, of which Dick was so

atter," continued Dick, loftily. "You may as well te

r says, and I think he is right. You are too young for this sort of thing yet. You must see the world; you must look about you; you must have plenty of choice," continued the anxious mother. "I shall be

badly of himself; he was not particularly humble-minded or given to troublesome introspection; on t

n honest, God-fearing young fellow, who spoke the truth and shamed the devil, who had no special vices but a dislike for early rising, who had tolerable brains, and mo

name was not mentioned between them. Nevertheless, Mrs. Mayne felt with unerring maternal instinct that, in spi

rdly had Dick finished his grumble and sauntered away,

at boy to keep you up so late at night? Do you know

o late,

he care you take of your health; and the way

ly spoiled," plucking up a

embarrassed Mr. Mayne, but 28 with his wife there would be no such danger. He would dominate her by his sharp speeches, and reduce her to abject submission in a moment, for Bessie was the meekest of wives. "Take care how you side with him," he continued, in a threate

lous of Nan, at times she almost dreaded her; but for her boy's sake she would have taken her now to her he

st your soft-hearted nonsense. Phillis is ten times prettier, and

Mrs. Mayne, sadly. She had no wish to deceive her husband a

head for the next year or two; there is plenty of time to look out for a wife after that. But I won't have him making up his mind until he has left O