f it. I was fully as sure as Jack was."

"I'll wager he's been offered Paris," said Temple, gravely.

"Offered Paris?" cried Jack; "what do you mean?"

"I mean the embassy, of course," replied he, contemptuously. "Without,"
added he, "they want him in the Cabinet."

"And is it really by men like this the country is governed?" said Nelly,
with a boldness that seemed the impulse of indignation.

"I 'm afraid so," said Marion, scornfully. "Mr. Canning and Lord
Palmerston were men very like this,--were they not, Temple?"

"Precisely; Lord Culduff is exactly of the same order, however humble
the estimate Ellen may form of such people."

"I 'm all impatience for the news," said Augustus. "I wish Cutbill would
come down at once."

"I 'll take the odds that he goes to F. O.," said Temple.

"What the deuce could he do in China?" cried Jack, whose ear had led him
into a cruel blunder.

Temple scarcely smiled at what savored of actual irreverence, and added,
"If so, I 'll ask to be made private secretary."

"Mr. Temple, sir, his Lordship would be glad to see you upstairs for a
moment," said a footman, entering. And Temple arose and left the room,
with a pride that might have accompanied him if summoned to a cabinet
council.

"More mysteries of State," cried Jack. "I declare, girls, the atmosphere
of political greatness is almost suffocating me. I wonder how Cutty
stands it!"

A general move into the drawing-room followed this speech; and as Jack
sauntered in he slipped his arm within Nelly's and led her towards a
window. "I can't bear this any longer, Nelly,--I must trip my anchor and
move away. I 'd as soon be lieutenant to a port admiral as live here.
You're all grown too fine for me."

"That's not it at all, Jack," said she, smiling. "I see how you 've been
trying to bully yourself by bullying us this hour back; but it will be
all right to-morrow. We 'll go over to the cottage after breakfast."

"You may; _I'll_ not, I promise you," said he, blushing deeply.

"Yes, you will, my dear Jack," said she, coaxingly; "and you 'll be the
first to laugh at your own foolish jealousy besides,--if Julia is not
too angry with you to make laughing possible."

"She may be angry or pleased, it's all one to me now," said he,
passionately. "When I told her she was a coquette, I did n't believe it;
but, by Jove, she has converted me to the opinion pretty quickly!"

"You 're a naughty boy, and you 're in a bad humor, and I'll