y, he had to turn away his
head, lest the sudden flush that covered his face should be observed.

"I have no wish to hear the story of this claim now; you shall tell
it to me some other time. But just tell me, was it ever heard of in my
father's time?"

"I believe so. Your father knew of it, but did not deem it serious."

"Marion, of course, despises it still; and what does Temple say?"

"One scarcely knows. I don't think they have had a letter from him since
they left Ireland."

"See what a wise fellow I was!" cried he, laughing. "I sank so low in
life that any change _must_ be elevation. You are all great folks to
_me!_"

There was a long and painful pause after this--each deep in his own
thoughts. At last Jack asked suddenly, "How is Marion? Is she happy in
her marriage?"

"We hear next to nothing of her; the newspapers tell us of her being at
great houses and in fine company, but we know no more."

"Of course she 's happy, then. When she was a child she would only play
with us if we made her a queen; and though we often tried to rebel--we
were great levellers in our way--she always kept us down, and whether we
liked it or not, we had to admit the sovereignty."

"Your younger sister"--he did not call her Nelly--"was not of this
mould?"

"Not a bit of it; she was the peacemaker, always on the side of
the weak; and though she was a delicate child, she 'd fight against
oppression with the passion of a tigress. Wasn't it strange?" said he,
after a pause. "There we were, five of us, treated and reared exactly
alike; in early life, certainly, there were no distinctions made, nor
any favoritism practised. We were of the same race and blood, and yet no
two of us were alike. Temple had, perhaps, some sort of resemblance
to Marion, but he had not her bold, daring spirit. Where _she_ was
courageous, _he 'd_ have been crafty. Whatever good there was amongst
us, Nelly had it."

Another and longer pause now succeeded. "I say, George," cried Jack, at
last, "how do you mean to break it to the girls that I 'm here? I take
it, poor Nelly's nerves must have suffered sorely of late. Is she likely
to stand a shock without injury?"

"It is exactly what I 'm trying to resolve this moment. Flushed with the
walk, and cheered by the fresh air, you don't look sickly now."

"Ah, my dear fellow, that's not the worst of it. It is the sight of me
as recalling my fallen fortune--that's what I fear for her; her last
good-bye to me w