pulling one of the glossy chestnut rings
into her sight, like a conscious beauty as she was.

'He asked Sarah all about it,' said Johnnie; 'and he said we had a very
good aunt; and, indeed, we have!' climbing carelessly into her lap.
'Then he met grandpapa, and they are walking in the square together.'

So Mr. Fotheringham could be in no real haste to be gone, and had only
hurried away to avoid Theodora. However, there was no more musing time,
the children's dinner was ready, and she was going down with the little
girls, when her father entered. 'How is Arthur?'

It was answered by Johnnie, who was flying down-stairs with joyous
though noiseless bounds, his whole person radiant with good tidings.
'Papa is asleep! grandpapa. Papa is fast asleep!'

'Have you been in the room?'

'No; mamma came to the door and told me. Baby is gone up to our nursery,
and nobody is to make the least noise, for papa is gone to sleep so
comfortably!'

The boy had caught so much gladness from his mother's look, that he
almost seemed to understand the importance of that first rest. His
grandfather stroked his hair, and in the same breath with Theodora,
exclaimed, 'It is owing to Percy!'

'Has he told you about it?' said Theodora.

'So much as that there is a final break with that fellow Gardner--a
comfort at least. Percy said they had got their affairs into a mess;
Arthur had been trying to free himself, but Gardner had taken advantage
of him, and used him shamefully, and his illness had forced him to come
away, leaving things more complicated than ever. There was a feeling of
revenge, it seems, at Arthur not having consented to some disgraceful
scheme of his; but Percy did not give me the particulars. Meeting him in
the steamer, ill and desperate--poor fellow--Percy heard the story, took
care of him, and saw him home; then, finding next morning what a state
he was in, and thinking there might be immediate demands--'

'Oh! that was the terrible dread and anxiety!'

'He did what not one man in a million would have done. He went off, and
on his own responsibility adjusted the matter, and brought Gardner to
consent. He said it had been a great liberty, and that he was glad to
find he had not gone too far, and that Arthur approved.'

'Do you know what it was?'

'No; he assured me all was right, and that there was no occasion to
trouble me with the detail. I asked if any advance was needed, and he
said no, which is lucky, for I cannot