ul Pophams, there would be no cause for fear."

Your uncle spoke at last.

"Wee wifie," he said, "one must not be in a hurry to break a connection
of thirty-three years' standing. I was but two years old when Mr
Popham, the father of Francis and John, first took me up. I was an
orphan with a bare pittance to maintain me, and no near relations; and
had Mr Popham been a less conscientious guardian, I might have been
exposed to many privations, ay, and temptations too. As it was, he
nursed my little inheritance carefully, put me to a good though strict
school, and arranged that I should spend my holidays at his house. Mrs
Popham (the mother of Francis, now head of our firm) was a mother to me
also, and her early death was my first keen and lasting grief. It made
Francis and me cling closely to one another, the more so because
bereavement added much to the natural sternness of Mr Popham's
character. Our holidays for the next three years were seasons rather of
restraint than of enjoyment, but bright days returned when he married
the second Mrs Popham, a young Greek of extraordinary beauty and
gentleness. He only lived five years after that, and his death was a
great misfortune to his younger boy John, who was left at four years old
to the boundless spoiling of a doting mother. Francis's character was
quite formed at that time, and his habits of business and order were
very remarkable for one so young. At twenty, he took the direction of
affairs, and with the help of experienced advisers, has managed them
admirably for fifteen years. He and I have met but rarely, as my knack
of mastering languages easily had caused me to be employed chiefly in
the service of the house abroad, but I think our friendship is such as
to stand the test of absence, ay, and of calumny too. I do not, cannot,
believe he will endorse his brother's hasty censure of my conduct."

Laurie jumped up and paced the room awhile, then stood still, and said
abruptly--

"Shall I read you an article in the last `Quarterly,' Cattie? It's in
my portmanteau somewhere; come and help me to look for it."

I linked my arm in his, well pleased, and we were crossing the hall and
listening to the pattering of the salt spray against the window, when,
lo! there came a sharp rap at the house door. Mr Englefield unbarred
it cautiously, and started as he encountered a very tall and slight
figure wrapped in a shepherd's plaid, and seeming to cower under the
stor