er."

"Possibly," said Mr. Cardross, who remembered both--stalwart, active,
courtly lords of the soil, great at field-sports and festivities, but
not over given to study. "No, the present earl does not take after his
progenitors in any way. You should just see him, Mr. Menteith, over his
Virgil; and I have promised to begin Homer with him tomorrow. It does
one's heart good to see a boy so fond of his books," added the minister,
warming up into an enthusiasm which delighted the other extremely.

"Yes, I think my plan was right," said he, rubbing his hands. "It will
work well on both sides. There could not be found any where a better
tutor than yourself for the earl. He never can go much into the world;
he may not even live to be of age; still, as long as he does live, his
life ought to be made as pleasant--I mean, as little painful to him
as possible. And he ought to be fitted, in case he should live, for as
many years as he can fulfill of the duties of his position; its
enjoyments, alas! he will never know."

"I am not so sure of that," replied Mr. Cardross. "He loves books; he
may turn out a thoroughly educated and accomplished student--perhaps
even a man of letters. To have a thirst for knowledge, and unlimited
means to gratify it, is not such a bad thing. Why," continued the
minister, glancing round on his own poorly-furnished shelves, where
every book was bought almost at the sacrifice of a meal, "he will be
rich enough to stock from end to end that wilderness of shelves in the
half-finished Castle library. How pleasant that must be!"

Mr. Menteith smiled as if he did not quite comprehend this sort of
felicity. "But, in any case, Lord Cairnforth seems to have, what will
be quite as useful to him as brains, a very kindly heart. He does not
shut himself up in a morbid way, but takes an interest in all about him.
Look at him, now, how heartily he is laughing at something your daughter
has said. Really, those two seem quite happy."

"Helen makes every body happy," fondly said Helen's father.

"I believe so. I shall be sending down one of my big lads to look after
her some day. I've eight of them, Mr. Cardross, all to be educated,
settled, and wived. It's a 'sair fecht,' I assure you."

"I know it; but still it has its compensations."

"Ay, they're all strong, likely, braw fellows, who can push their own
way in the world and fend for themselves. Not like--" he glanced over
to the group on the gra