"Yes," replied Lady Elton carelessly; "he is a kindly animal, but a mere animal."

A pause ensued while the dessert was handed round. Grace had vindicated her courage to herself, and felt it would not be in good taste to attack her uncle again. Max had exhausted his subjects, and was hunting through his mental preserves for a new one, and Mr. Frere's brow looked sullen. The silence continued for a few seconds, whereupon Mab, who had partaken largely and indiscriminately of the good things offered to her, felt satisfied and disposed to join in the conversation.

"Max," she began abruptly, "there is a cat and a canary in our house; they are kept downstairs in the kitchen."

"Indeed, Mab!" returned Max, rather thankful to her for a fresh start; "and have you penetrated into those regions to make their acquaintance?"

"Yes; I had tea one day with Miss Timbs."

"And who is Miss Timbs, Mab?"

"Oh, she is the woman of the house; she buys everything for us and such bad butter!"

"Mabel, my dear, do not talk at dinner," said Mrs. Frere; "little girls should be seen, and not heard."

"Ah, we used to reverse that maxim at Dungar, Mab," cried Max, laughing. "So you have made friends with the cat."

"Yes; it is a very nice cat, though she often eats up our cold meat, and fish, and things; but I will show her to you when you come to see us. When will you come, Max ?"

"Oh, next Sunday. You know I have not any holidays in London. It is all work and no play, here."

"That is horrid!" exclaimed Mab, with warm sympathy.

"It has not made you a dull boy yet, Max," said Mrs. Frere, kindly.

"Rather exerted a sharpening influence on the original over-softness of his nature-eh, Miss Frere?" observed Lady Elton.

"Softness!" repeated Grace, opening her big eyes on the speaker with unaffected surprise; "I never perceived much softness about Max."

"What a fortunate fellow I am to be seated between two such charming aunts; both so alive to my many excellencies!

"To say nothing of a cousin who used to think you the wisest man of the day," said Randal.

"Who, yourself or Grace? How cruel to speak in the past tense."

"If you come on Sunday, Max," recommenced Mab, "will you take me to the Zoological Gardens? and Grace might come, too?"

"Ah! that would be very nice: but, unfortunately, I am engaged to dine at Rockhampton."

"Well, the Sunday after," said Mab, with her usual persistence; "and then I can go with Mr. Byrne to Hampstead next Sunday." "With whom?" asked Max, raising his eyebrows in undisguised astonishment.

"Jimmy Byrne. Don't you know Jimmy Byrne?" returned Mab.

"Does she mean that sharp little beggar at Steenson and Greggs'?" asked Max, addressing himself to Grace.

"He is not a beggar!" cried Mab indignantly; "he has plenty of money. He brings me cakes and lots of things in his black bag."

"It is the same," said Grace, meeting her cousin's glance with calm, unshrinking eyes, though the colour came back faintly to her cheeks.

Max made no rejoinder, but turned to his pineapple in expressive silence.

"I wish you would not talk so much, Mab," cried Randal, with some irritation.

He was much impressed by Lady Elton's manner and appearance, and consequently scandalised by Mab's revelations; but he brought his own punishment on himself, for Mab replied by openly, under Lady Elton's very eyes, then turned full upon her, making a grimace so indicative of utter contemptuous defiance, that Lady Elton burst out laughing.

"I am afraid you are not properly in subjection to your elder brother, Miss Mab," she said good-humouredly, to which, with a sudden return of the shyness that had kept her quiet during the first stages of dinner, Mab made no answer, only hung her head and twisted her napkin.

"If you will not take anything more "continued Lady Elton, with the after-dinner cabalistic nod, seeing Mrs. Frere refuse the preserved ginger; and then the ladies rose to leave the room.

"Perhaps," said Max to Mrs. Frere, "you and Randal will stay and have a little talk with my father, as he has so seldom any time to spare."

Certainly," returned Mrs. Frere, pausing and casting a quick, nervous look at her daughter.

"Then we will leave you," said Lady Elton. ladies!" and she led the way decidedly.

"Come, young

Max held the door open, and Grace, who came last, full of sympathy for her mother, who she knew was trembling at the notion of a business talk with her frigid brother-in-law, whispered, as she

passed: "Stand by my mother, Max!" backing the injunction with a glance of frank entreaty from those soft grey eyes which used to quicken his pulses some few months ago.

"I will," whispered Max, low, but emphatic; and as he slowly closed the door he stood at the opening to the last, looking after her, Grace felt convinced.

When Max returned to his seat, Mrs. Frere had resumed hers, and Randal, with too evident sang-froid, was helping himself to a fresh supply of olives.

66

Well, my dear aunt," said Max pleasantly, "I suppose your first care is to dispose of this young gentleman ?"

"It is indeed, Max,” replied that lady, pocket-handkerchief already in hand, prepared for emergencies, while the quick beating of her heart was visible in her throat. "And I feel sure your father will do what he can to help his only brother's only surviving son."

"I should be happy to assist you, if in my power," said Mr. Frere, with mechanical civility. "What has Randal been trained for?" An awful silence ensued.

"I mean," resumed Mr. Frere, filling his glass with claret, "has he been prepared for any examination? or do you think of an office, a-merchant's office, or a lawyer's ?"

"I don't think Randal has been exactly trained for anything," returned the mother, gathering courage, as she had to boast her son's requirements. "But he is really very well educated. Though latterly my beloved father had not the means to give him the advantages we all wished for, he has kept up his studies with Dr. Stepney, he speaks French very well, though not so well as Grace, and he has remarkable facility in writing; indeed, I imagine his real tendency is for literature, only that is such uphill work. But I think, with his knowledge of French, and the rudiments of German, if he could get into the Foreign Office, or, as it does not do to be too ambitious, a private secretaryship to-a-nobleman, or ambassador-_____"

She ceased, having talked herself into a comparative calm, and profound silence fell upon the party for a moment or two. Then Max, suppressing a smile which yet gleamed in his eyes, said not unkindly :

"For the Foreign Office it is necessary to pass an examination, and-" He paused, for Mr. Frere broke in, disapprobation in every wrinkle of his brow, and every tone of his voice:

"It seems, then, that your son is not fitted for anything! This sort of desultory education is pure loss of time; all the accomplishments and requirements possible are of no use, if not properly pigeonholed and directed. I would suggest a year's training in some house

of business, either legal or mercantile; though I must warn you that it is exceedingly difficult to gain admittance into any house now. Many demand a premium-none offer any salary for the first year." "Do you mean Randal to be a clerk?" asked Mrs. Frere with mingled astonishment and indignation.

Yes, if he were so fortunate as to obtain such a situation; but it is not so easy."

Mrs. Frere's pocket-handkerchief found occupation.

"I decidedly object to being tied to a desk," said Randal energetically; "it is not a calling for a gentleman! Why, little Jimmy Byrne is a clerk; and as to my not being fit for anything, Uncle Frere, how do you know that till I am tried? At any rate, I have some plans of my own, and until they have failed I do not see why my mother need trouble you."

"I am afraid, my dear boy, your plans are but vague," said Mrs. Frere tearfully. "When you know the world as I doshe broke off abruptly.

"I fear you have a good deal to learn, young gentleman!” said Mr. Frere severely. "Pray, how old is your son?" to Mrs. Frere. "He was nineteen in November, and Grace eighteen in January last."

"You see he has lost a great deal of time at the outset of his career. I am of course by no means anxious to press my assistance on him, nor should I wish to neglect my brother's children; so when Randal's present plans have fallen through, I am willing to give him a seat in my counting-house for a year, that he may learn business. I do not undertake to give him continued employment, but his training with our firm will give him a better chance for the future; and though I cannot make any exception in his favour as regards salary, I shall be happy to allow you fifty pounds a year for two years, payable quarterly, in advance; by the expiration of which time I hope your son will be in a position to afford you some effectual assistance."

"I am sure you are exceedingly good," Mrs. Frere was beginning, with heightened colour, when Max, as if not perceiving that she spoke, broke in:

"Come, Randal, that is a very fair offer of my father's; you ought to snatch at it. A sharp young fellow like you would pick up a very tolerable idea of business at our place in a year. What do you say?"

"I should never make a man of business," said Randal, looking cross and uncomfortable. I am, of course, very much obliged to my uncle, but I would rather try my hand at writing for the press first. I rather imagine I have an opening in that direction; the fact is," with an air of importance, "I am on rather friendly terms with the

editor of the Girdle, and he has at present some of my MS. under consideration."

"The Girdle! What the deuce is the Girdle? I never heard of it before," exclaimed Max, laughing. "I suppose it is one of those penny concerns that totter along for a month or two and then smash up."

"Perhaps so," returned Randal, with lofty scorn; but when I tell you that the editor is Halkett, probably you may not think so little of the 'concern.'

"Halkett!" repeated Max, with provoking emphasis. "My dear boy, nobody ever heard of him. Do not let these obscure scribblers bamboozle you; they cannot help you; they can scarcely scrape along themselves. Take my advice: throw your MS. into the fire, close with my father's offer, and possibly, ten years hence, if you have the true author's stuff in you, you may give us a volume of experiences, or a new work on finance."

"Max," said Mrs. Frere, "this is no laughing matter!"

"I know I was always a laughing-stock to my experienced cousin!" cried Randal, flushing fiery-red with indignation. "But we will see! I am determined to try my luck-much obliged to you all the same, sir!" to Mr. Frere." And though it's very good of you to offer my mother a pension for a couple of years, I think we'll see how we can get on, on our own resources. We are not penniless-eh, mother?"

"No-not exactly! Really your uncle is very considerate; fifty pounds is a great deal of money. But I should not like Randal to be tied to a desk all his life; and as he seems a little hurt (perhaps he is too sensitive), I believe we had better decline for the present your kind offer. Though my means are limited, there are feelings

"Do not decide on anything, my dear aunt," interrupted Max, his lip curling with the contempt he could not quite conceal. "You know your own resources; and I must say my father's offer is not of a nature to be lightly rejected."

"I think we might join Lady Elton," said Mr. Frere calmly, "for I believe there is nothing more to be said. The offer I have made is the utmost I can undertake. Should your son prefer law to business, possibly Messrs. Steenson and Greggs might admit him among their employés, and-a-I have no other suggestion to make. Shall we go upstairs?'

"If it comes to a clerkship," said Randal insolently," I would rather serve under Jimmy Byrne."

His uncle took no notice of him, but rang, to let the servants know they were leaving the dining-room.

"Randal, you are a blockhead, believe me," said Max, with much