ng the usual answer to a
knock at the door, saw a large cap introduce itself, the head belonging
to which seemed afraid to follow.

"Who's that?" he called out.

"It's me, my lord," said the head, gradually following the cap.
"Griffiths, my lord."

"Well?"

"Lady Selina, my lord; her ladyship bids me give your lordship her
love, and would you see her ladyship for five minutes before you get
up?"

Lord Kilcullen having assented to this proposal, the cap and head
retired. A second knock at the door was soon given, and Lady Selina
entered the room, with a little bit of paper in her hand.

"Good morning, Adolphus," said the sister.

"Good morning, Selina," said the brother. "It must be something very
particular, which brings you here at this hour."

"It is indeed, something very particular. I have been with papa this
morning, Adolphus: he has told me of the interview between you last
night."

"Well."

"Oh, Adolphus! he is very angry--he's--"

"So am I, Selina. I am very angry, too;--so we're quits. We laid a plan
together, and we both failed, and each blames the other; so you need
not tell me anything further about his anger. Did he send any message
to me?"

"He did. He told me I might give you this, if I would undertake that
you left Grey Abbey to-day:" and Lady Selina held up, but did not give
him, the bit of paper.

"What a dolt he is."

"Oh, Adolphus!" said Selina, "don't speak so of your father."

"So he is: how on earth can you undertake that I shall leave the
house?"

"I can ask you to give me your word that you will do so; and I can take
back the check if you refuse," said Lady Selina, conceiving it utterly
impossible that one of her own family could break his word.

"Well, Selina, I'll answer you fairly. If that bit of paper is a cheque
for five hundred pounds, I will leave this place in two hours. If it is
not--"

"It is," said Selina. "It is a cheque for five hundred pounds, and I
may then give it to you?"

"I thought as much," said Lord Kilcullen; "I thought he'd alter his
mind. Yes, you may give it me, and tell my father I'll dine in London
to-morrow evening."

"He says, Adolphus, he'll not see you before you go."

"Well, there's comfort in that, anyhow."

"Oh, Adolphus! how can you speak in that manner now?--how can you speak
in that wicked, thoughtless, reckless manner?" said his sister.

"Because I'm a wicked, thoughtless, reckless man, I suppose. I didn't
mean to vex you, S