se you have made desolate by your
execrable folly in slipping away by night like a thief, or rather like
that far more dangerous animal, a fool."

The old man delivered these insults with a purple face, and a loud fury,
that in former days would have awakened corresponding rage in the fiery
young fellow. But affliction had tempered him, and his insulter's hairs
were gray.

He said, quietly, "You are her father. I forgive you these cruel words."
Then he took his hat and went away.

Mr. Carden followed him to the passage, and cried after him, "The
villain will meet a worse reception than the fool. I promise you that
much."

Little went home despondent, and found a long letter from his mother,
telling him he must dine and sleep at Raby Hall that day.

She gave him such potent reasons, and showed him so plainly his refusal
would infuriate his uncle, and make her miserable, that he had no
choice. He packed up his dress suit, and drove to Raby Hall, with a
heavy heart and bitter reluctance.

O caeca mens hominum.

CHAPTER XLI.

It was the great anniversary. On that day Sir Richard Raby had lost for
the Stuarts all the head he possessed. His faithful descendent seized
the present opportunity to celebrate the event with more pomp than ever.
A month before the fatal day he came in from Hillsborough with sixty
yards of violet-colored velvet, the richest that could be got from
Lyons; he put this down on a table, and told his sister that was for her
and Jael to wear on the coming anniversary. "Don't tell me there's not
enough," said he; "for I inquired how much it would take to carpet two
small rooms, and bought it; now what will carpet two little libraries
will clothe two large ladies; and you are neither of you shrimps."

While he was thus doing the cynical, nobody heeded him; quick and
skillful fingers were undoing the parcel, and the ladies' cheeks flushed
and their eyes glistened, and their fingers felt the stuff inside and
out: in which occupation Raby left them, saying, "Full dress, mind! We
Rabys are not beheaded every day."

Mrs. Little undertook to cut both dresses, and Jael was to help sew
them.

But, when they came to be tried on, Jael was dismayed. "Why, I shall be
half naked," said she. "Oh, Mrs. Little, I couldn't: I should sink with
shame."

Mrs. Little pooh-poohed that, and an amusing dialogue followed between
these two women, both of them equally modest, but one hardened, and
perhaps a lit