id, trying to speak coolly, though his mother's gaze made him
decidedly uncomfortable. 'But I'm sick of the subject. I'll away over to
Kelvinside, and have it either off or on. If the thing's out, I'll
brazen it out; it's the only way.'

'You don't seem to realise the seriousness of the position, I'm sure I
don't know what has made you go so far astray--not the training or
example in this house. You have grievously disappointed me.'

'Oh, mother, don't preach. I've confessed to you, and it isn't fair to
be so awfully down upon me,' he retorted irritably. 'I don't think you
or the governor have had much to complain of as far as my conduct is
concerned, and I'm not going to stay here to be bullied and snubbed for
making a little slip. I tell you, you don't know what other fellows are.
I've a good mind to open your eyes for you.'

'I don't want them opened, thank you; and if that is the spirit in which
you are going to the Crescent, you deserve to fail, as you are sure to
do. I am not sure whether I shall not tell your father, after all,' she
said icily.

'I don't care if you do,' he retorted, and banged out in ill-humour,
which, however, gradually cooled down as he walked rapidly to the
station.

Finding no train for the city due for ten minutes, he threw himself into
a hansom, and drove all the way, reaching his aunt's house before eight
o'clock. Although he ran up the steps at once, he did not immediately
ring, but even went back into the street, and took a turn up to the end
of the houses, surprised and irritated at his own nervous apprehension.
Glancing up to the house when he again came opposite to it, he saw the
three long windows of the drawing-room lighted, and pictured the scene
within. It was a new and unwelcome sensation for him to feel any
reluctance in entering a drawing-room where there were three charming
girls, and at last, calling himself a fool, he ran up the steps a second
time, and gave the bell a furious pull.

'Is Miss Graham here, Hardy?' he asked the maid, an old servant of his
aunt's, who opened the door.

'Yes, sir.'

'Anybody in the library?'

'No, sir. Mr. Fordyce is sleeping on the dining-room sofa.'

'Oh, all right. Just take my card to Miss Graham, and ask her if she
would be so kind as to come down to the library for a few minutes.'

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXXVI.

TETE-A-TETE.

'How extraordinary!' exclaimed Gladys. 'Your cousin is in the library,
why does he not