ws, nor stumble over straws. I have tamed many
a proud spirit in my day, but this boy defies my power. I fear and hate
him, but I cannot crush him. But hush!--here he is.'

"I bustled forward and flung my portmanteau heavily to the ground. 'How
are you, grandmother? How's Alice? All well, I hope?'

"'Do you see the gentleman, Philip?'

"'Gentleman! I beg his pardon. A fine evening, sir; but very hot and
dusty travelling by the coach. I have not tasted anything since
breakfast, grandmother; and I am tired and hungry.'

"'Yours is the hungry age,' said the lawyer, staring me full in the
face, as if he was taking a proof impression for legal purposes. His
cold, searching look brought the blood to my cheeks, and I returned the
impertinent scrutiny with a glance of defiance.

"He rose; nodded meaningly to Dinah, bowed slightly to me, and left the
cottage.

"The next minute Alice was in my arms.

"'Brother! dear, darling brother! welcome, welcome a thousand times.'

"Oh, what a contrast to the dark, joyless countenance of Dinah North,
was the cherub face of Alice--laughing in the irresistible glee of her
young heart. I forgot my long, tiresome journey, dust, heat, and
hunger, as I pulled her on my knee, and covered her rosy cheeks with
kisses.

"'What news since I left, Alice?'

"'Sad news, Philip. Dear Madge is in London on a visit to her aunt; and
there is a dull, cross boy staying at the Hall, with a very hard
name--Theophilus Moncton--Margaret's cousin. But he is nothing like
her, though he calls her his little wife. But Madge says that she will
never have him, though his father is very rich.'

"'I am sure _you will_ hate him, Philip, for he calls us beggar's
brats, and wonders that Sir Alexander suffers his daughter to play with
us. I told him that he was very rude; and that he had better not
affront you, for you would soon teach him better manners. But he only
sneered at me, and said, "My father's a _gentleman_. He never suffers
me to associate with people _beneath_ us. Your brother had better keep
out of my way, or I will order my groom to horsewhip him." I felt very
angry and began to cry, and Sir Alexander came in and reproved the boy,
and told me I had better return to grandmamma until Mr. Moncton and his
son had left the Hall.'

"While little Alice, ran on thus to me, I felt stung to the quick; and
all the pride of my nature warring within. For the first time in my
life, I became painfully conscious