hdrew. Arnold, who had thus far waited in
silence at the foot of the steps, looked appealingly at Sir Patrick. The
train which was to take him to his newly inherited property would start
in less than an hour; and he had not presented himself to Blanche's
guardian in the character of Blanche's suitor yet! Sir Patrick's
indifference to all domestic claims on him--claims of persons who
loved, and claims of persons who hated, it didn't matter which--remained
perfectly unassailable. There he stood, poised on his cane, humming an
old Scotch air. And there was Lady Lundie, resolute not to leave him
till he had seen the governess with _her_ eyes and judged the governess
with _her_ mind. She returned to the charge--in spite of Sir Patrick,
humming at the top of the steps, and of Arnold, waiting at the bottom.
(Her enemies said, "No wonder poor Sir Thomas died in a few months after
his marriage!" And, oh dear me, our enemies _are_ sometimes right!)

"I must once more remind you, Sir Patrick, that I have serious reason
to doubt whether Miss Silvester is a fit companion for Blanche. My
governess has something on her mind. She has fits of crying in private.
She is up and walking about her room when she ought to be asleep. She
posts her own letters--_and,_ she has lately been excessively insolent
to Me. There is something wrong. I must take some steps in the
matter--and it is only proper that I should do so with your sanction, as
head of the family."

"Consider me as abdicating my position, Lady Lundie, in your favor."

"Sir Patrick, I beg you to observe that I am speaking seriously, and
that I expect a serious reply."

"My good lady, ask me for any thing else and it is at your service. I
have not made a serious reply since I gave up practice at the
Scottish Bar. At my age," added Sir Patrick, cunningly drifting into
generalities, "nothing is serious--except Indigestion. I say, with the
philosopher, 'Life is a comedy to those who think, and tragedy to those
who feel.'" He took his sister-in-law's hand, and kissed it. "Dear Lady
Lundie, why feel?"

Lady Lundie, who had never "felt" in her life, appeared perversely
determined to feel, on this occasion. She was offended--and she showed
it plainly.

"When you are next called on, Sir Patrick, to judge of Miss Silvester's
conduct," she said, "unless I am entirely mistaken, you will find
yourself _compelled_ to consider it as something beyond a joke." With
those words, she walked out