to have some respect for those to whom you
owe your being; learn to have some regard
for the talents with which you are endowed,
and the legitimate exercise of which cannot
fail to make you known and distinguished."

"In spite of all that," pursued the boy
recklessly," I believe, mother, you would like
to see ne in Frank's shoes. Only think, this
grand old house, the woods, the lands, all
mine. But there, don't bring down the
thunderclouds! I'm sure, if the old Parcæ have
ill-used me in condemning me to be a hewer
of wood and a drawer of water, they are ten
times more to blame for making you anything
but an empress. If they'd only done you
justice now, I could have accommodated
myself nicely to the character of a royal duke."

"Doubtless, you foolish boy," said his
mother, caressing his full dark curls.

"But only fancy, mother, you sweeping
along in velvet and diamonds, issuing your
commands to your generals and counsellors;
ordering one man to lose his head, making a
governor of a province of another; and me
riding about on a cream-coloured Arabian
pony, at the head of an army, going to
chastise some rebellious barbarians."

"Silly boy!" cried Lady Irwin, "what a
shock you will feel when you descend from
your Pegasus, and know yourself nothing
but plain Edward Irwin, with not a sou to
help you but what your father or brother
may choose to give you."

" Considering the state of the case, mother,
I think you might have let me give the reins
to my fancy a little longer. I wish you hadn't
pulled me up with such a jerk. I declare I
felt the Arab under me, and the air fanning
my cheek, and you and all your court ladies
looking down from your balcony. It was too
bad to bring me down such a thump into this
seedy old room, with nothing out of doors
but that wet blanket of a sky. I don't
believe it ever intends to leave off raining
till all the branches are washed off the trees.
Why, if there isn't Kitty! Only think,
mother, of her coming all through this rain.
See how daintily she holds up her dress, and
what little pools of water her pretty pattering
feet leave every step she takes. She's worth
my cloud palace, Arab pony and all! There's
a smile, now, would make sunshine anywhere.
O mother, stir the fire and make it blaze,
while I run down and help her off with her
cloak."

Away he ran, leaving his mother sunk in
gloomy meditation. The impatience he had
expressed, and forgotten as soon as expressed,
awakened the discontent in her own heart,
and roused the old bitterness and jealousy
that slumbered in her bosom. She was
essentially an ambitious woman; her very love
partook of the passion by which the angels
tell; and the beauty and promise of her son,
while it increased the idolatrous affection
which she bore him, aggravated her
discontent at the inferior position to which he
was destined. But the fire smouldered in her
own bosom, and even Agnese knew not into
how fierce a blaze a little breath might
kindle it.

When Edward returned, bringing in
Catherine Birkby, despoiled of her wet
garments, and glowing with exercise, the cloud
had passed from Lady Irwin's countenance, if
not from her spirit, and she welcomed her young
visitor with courtesy, even with kindness.

" And now, mother," said Edward, when
he had established the guest in a warm corner
of a sofa, and supplied her with a footstool
and all imaginable comforts;" and now,
mother, would you like to know what has
brought my princess out this fine November
morning? It's a good story, and I'll tell
Frank as sure as fate."

" Suppose you begin by telling me," said
his mother, smiling.

" You tell her, Kitty. Doesn't she look a
nice tutor, now? Just look at her; she
wants nothing but a pair of spectacles and a
stout cane."

"The boy's distracted," said Lady Irwin.
" He is so delighted that you are come to
break the dull tête-à-tête with his prosy old
mother, Kate, that he can't speak an
intelligible word."

" Well then, mother— neither prosy nor
old, much younger than Kitty, I'll be bound
—would you believe it? the abominable
creature has come out through this weather
to bring me my Arnold's Exercise book."

" She is a great deal too good to you, sir ;
and we must get Mr. Birkby to be more
strict with you, if you continue so careless."

" But only think of her malignity, mother,
when I had forgotten the stupid book so
cleverly, and persuaded myself that it would
be cruel to send Brade and the ragged old.
pony for it, she must come through the cold
and wet for no other purpose than to make
me ashamed of myself. There's only one
thing to be said for her ; she never did Arnold
herself, and so she doesn't know what a
tremendous bore he is."

"Now I have brought the book, I hope
you intend to do the exercise," said Kitty,
smiling.

" Well, that depends. You must fold the
paper and mend the pens, and look out the
words in the index. But no, let's go and
have a game at billiards. I'll hunt up
Frank, and mother will come."

"No, no," said Kitty. "I'll play no billiards
till you've done your exercise."

"Well, we can play without you, you
know."

" You will have to play by yourself then,"
said his mother. " You'll find no one here
to play with you, if you are rude to Kitty."

" Rude to Kitty! " repeated the boy, the
colour flushing to his cheek. " Rude to
Kitty, whom I love better than anything in
the whole world? I don't know what you
mean, mother."