left-handed ways will worry me incessantly. And then
we have not an idea in common----" but here Grace generously
interposed:

"Poor old fellow! as though I did not know all that; but you must not
vent it on poor Mattie. She is not to blame for our disappointment.
She would gladly give it up to me if she could. I know she will do her
utmost to please you, Archie, and she is so good and amiable that you
must overlook her little failings and make the best of her."

"It will be rather difficult work, I am afraid," returned her brother,
grimly. "I shall always be drawing invidious comparisons between you
both, and thinking what you would do in her place."

"All the same you must try and be good to her for my sake, for I am
very fond of Mattie," she returned, gently; but he could not help
feeling gratified at the assurance that he would miss her. And then
she put her hand on his coat-sleeve, and stroked it, a favorite caress
with her. "It does not bear talking about: does it, Archie? It only
makes it feel worse. I think it must be meant as a discipline for me,
because I am so wicked, and that it would not do at all for me to be
too happy." And here she pressed his arm, and looked up in his face,
with an attempt at a smile.

"No, you are right: talking only makes it worse," he returned,
hurriedly; and then he stooped--for he was a tall man--and kissed her
on the forehead just between her eyes, and then walked to the door,
whistling a light air.

Grace did not think him at all abrupt in thus breaking off the
conversation. She had caught his meaning in a moment, and knew the
whole business was so painful to him that he did not care to dwell on
it. When the tea-bell rang, she prepared herself at once to accompany
him downstairs.

It was Archibald's last evening at home, and all the family were
gathered round the long tea-table. Since Mr. Drummond's misfortunes,
late dinners had been relinquished, and more homely habits prevailed
in the household. Mrs. Drummond had, indeed, apologized to her son
more than once for the simplicity of their mode of life.

"You are accustomed to a late dinner, Archie. I wish I could have
managed it for you; but your father objects to any alteration being
made in our usual habits."

"He is quite right; and I should have been much distressed if you had
thought such alteration necessary," returned her son, very much
surprised at this reference to his father. For Mrs. Drummond rarely
consulted