the water," said Colonel Lambert, smiling:
"or your aunt, the Baroness of Bernstein, who left you in our charge.
Whatever her old partialities may have been, she has repented of them;
she has rallied to our side, landed her nephews in the Household,
and looks to find a suitable match for her nieces. If you have Tory
opinions, Mr. Warrington, take an old soldier's advice, and keep them to
yourself."

"Why, sir, I do not think that you will betray me!" said the boy.

"Not I, but others might. You did not talk in this way at Castlewood? I
mean the old Castlewood which you have just come from."

"I might be safe amongst my own kinsmen, surely, sir!" cried Harry.

"Doubtless. I would not say no. But a man's own kinsmen can play him
slippery tricks at times, and he finds himself none the better for
trusting them. I mean no offence to you or any of your family; but
lacqueys have ears as well as their masters, and they carry about all
sorts of stories. For instance, your black fellow is ready to tell all
he knows about you, and a great deal more besides, as it would appear."

"Hath he told about the broken-kneed horse?" cried out Harry, turning
very red.

"To say truth, my groom seemed to know something of the story, and said
it was a shame a gentleman should sell another such a brute; let alone
a cousin. I am not here to play the Mentor to you, or to carry about
servants' tittle-tattle. When you have seen more of your cousins, you
will form your own opinion of them; meanwhile, take an old soldier's
advice, I say again, and be cautious with whom you deal, and what you
say."

Very soon after this little colloquy, Mr. Lambert's guest rose, with the
assistance of Gumbo, his valet, to whom he, for the hundredth time at
least, promised a sound caning if ever he should hear that Gumbo had
ventured to talk about his affairs again in the servants'-hall,--which
prohibition Gumbo solemnly vowed and declared he would for ever obey;
but I dare say he was chattering the whole of the Castlewood secrets
to his new friends of Colonel Lambert's kitchen; for Harry's hostess
certainly heard a number of stories concerning him which she could
not prevent her housekeeper from telling; though of course I would not
accuse that worthy lady, or any of her sex or ours, of undue curiosity
regarding their neighbours' affairs. But how can you prevent servants
talking, or listening when the faithful attached creatures talk to you?

Mr. Lambert's ho