ll the while.

"That," Edgar laughed, "is a rather euphemistic way of putting it. My
washes have not been consulted. I must give my relatives the credit
for the idea. Still, one must admit they had some provocation."

"It strikes me they have had a good deal of patience," George said
dryly. "I suppose it's exhausted."

"No," replied Edgar, with a confidential air; "it's mine that has given
out. I'd better explain that being stuffed with what somebody calls
formulae gets monotonous, and it's a diet they're rather fond of at
Oxford. Down here in the country they're almost as bad; and pretending
to admire things I don't believe in positively hurts. That's why I
sometimes protest, with, as a rule, disastrous results."

"Disastrous to the objectionable ideas or customs?"

"No," laughed the lad; "to me. Have you ever noticed how vindictive
narrow-minded people get when you destroy their pet delusions?"

"I can't remember ever having done so."'

"Then you'll come to it. If you're honest it's unavoidable; only some
people claim that they make the attack from duty, while I find a
positive pleasure in the thing."

"There's one consolation--you won't have much time for such proceedings
if you come with me. You'll have to work in Canada."

"I anticipated something of the sort," the lad rejoined. Then he grew
serious. "Have you decided who's to look after your affairs while you
are away? If you haven't, you might do worse than leave them to
Stephen. He's steady and safe as a rock, and, after all, the three per
cent. you're sure of is better than a handsome dividend you may never
get."

"I can't give Herbert the go-by. He's the obvious person to do
whatever may be needful."

"I suppose so," Edgar assented, with some reluctance. "No doubt he'd
feel hurt if you asked anybody else; but I wish you could have got
Stephen."

He changed the subject; and when some of the others came up and joined
them, he resumed his humorous manner.

"I'm not asking for sympathy," he said, in answer to one remark. "I'm
going out to extend the bounds of the empire, strengthen the ties with
the mother country, and that sort of thing. It's one of the privileges
that seem to be attached to the possession of a temperament like mine."

"How will you set about the work?" somebody asked.

"With the plow and the land-packer," George broke in. "He'll have the
satisfaction of driving them twelve hours a day. It happens to be the