in that way. I believe he is really very fond of
Dick; but he wants to order his life in his own way, and no young man
will stand that."

"No, by Jove! that is rather too strong for a fellow. I should say
Master Dick could not put up with that."

"It seems my poor Nan is not good enough for his son, just because she
had no money and has been obliged to make herself useful. Does it not
seem hard, Harry?--my beautiful Nan! And the Maynes are just nobodies:
why, Mr. Mayne's father was only a shopkeeper in a very small way, and
his wife's family was no better!"

"Well, you must not expect me to understand all that," replied her
nephew, in a puzzled tone. "In the colonies, we did not think much
about that sort of thing: it would not have done there to inquire too
narrowly into a man's antecedents. I knew capital fellows whose
fathers had been butchers, and bakers, and candlestick-makers; and,
bless me! what does it matter if the fellow is all right himself?" he
finished; for the last Challoner was a decided Radical.

But Mrs. Challoner, who was mildly obstinate in such matters, would
not yield her point:

"You would think differently if you had been educated at Eton. In
England, it is necessary to discriminate among one's acquaintances. I
find no fault with Dick: he is as nice and gentlemanly as possible;
but his father has not got his good-breeding; possibly he had not his
advantages. But it is they--the Maynes--who would be honored by an
alliance with one of my daughters." And Mrs. Challoner raised her head
and drew herself up with such queenly dignity that Sir Harry dared not
argue the point.

"Oh, yes; I see," he returned, hastily. "Well, I shall let him know
what you think. You need not be afraid I shall lower your dignity,
Aunt Catherine. I meant to be rather high and mighty myself,--that is,
if I could manage it." And he broke into one of his huge laughs.

Mrs. Challoner was very fond of her nephew; but she was not a clever
woman, and she did not always understand his hints. When they were
alone together, he was perpetually making this sort of remarks to her
in a half-serious, half-joking way, eliciting her opinions, consulting
her tastes, with a view to his future plans.

With the girls he was provokingly reticent. Phillis and Dulce used to
catechise him sometimes; but his replies were always evasive.

"Do you know, Harry," Phillis said to him once, very gravely, "I think
you are leading a dreadfully idle