. Frank is d---d
extravagant; treats me very coolly, too--not coming; near three o'clock.
By the by, I suppose he told you where I was, otherwise how did you find
me out?"

RANDAL (reluctantly).--"Sir, he did; and to speak frankly, I am not
surprised that he has not yet appeared."

SQUIRE.--"Eh!"

RANDAL.--"We have grown very intimate."

SQUIRE.--"So he writes me word,--and I am glad of it. Our member, Sir
John, tells me you are a very clever fellow, and a very steady one. And
Frank says that he wishes he had your prudence, if he can't have your
talent. He has a good heart, Frank," added the father, relentingly. "But
zounds, sir, you say you are not surprised he has not come to welcome
his own father!"

"My dear sir," said Randal, "you wrote word to Frank that you had
heard from Sir John and others of his goings-on, and that you were not
satisfied with his replies to your letters."

"Well."

"And then you suddenly come up to town."

"Well."

"Well. And Frank is ashamed to meet you. For, as you say, he has been
extravagant, and he has exceeded his allowance; and knowing my respect
for you and my great affection for himself, he has asked me to prepare
you to receive his confession and forgive him. I know I am taking a
great liberty. I have no right to interfere between father and son; but
pray--pray think I mean for the best."

"Humph!" said the squire, recovering himself very slowly, and showing
evident pain, "I knew already that Frank had spent more than he ought;
but I think he should not have employed a third person to prepare me to
forgive him. (Excuse me,--no offence.) And if he wanted a third person,
was not there his own mother? What the devil! [firing up] am I a tyrant,
a bashaw, that my own son is afraid to speak to me? 'Gad, I'll give it
him!"

"Pardon me, sir," said Randal, assuming at once that air of authority
which superior intellect so well carries off and excuses, "but I
strongly advise you not to express any anger at Frank's confidence in
me. At present I have influence over him. Whatever you may think of his
extravagance, I have saved him from many an indiscretion, and many
a debt,--a young man will listen to one of his own age so much more
readily than even to the kindest friend of graver years. Indeed, sir, I
speak for your sake as well as for Frank's. Let me keep this influence
over him; and don't reproach him for the confidence placed in me. Nay,
let him rather think that I have soft