sterful damsel brought to speedy confusion.
It was also said that when he went back to the Parliament House, every
one could understand what he said, and that he got two briefs in one
week, which shows how good it is to live in an ancient house with
honest people.

"Is there a ghost, dad?" They were sitting before the fire in the hall
after dinner--Kate in her favourite posture, leaning forward and
nursing her knee. The veterans and I thought that she always looked at
her best so, with her fine eyes fixed on the fire, and the light
bringing her face into relief against the shadow. We saw her feet
then--one lifted a little from the ground--and V. C. declared they were
the smallest you could find for a woman of her size.

[Illustration: Kate in her favourite position.]

"She knows it, too," he used to say, "for when a woman has big feet she
always keeps them tucked in below her gown. A woman with an eight-size
glove and feet to correspond is usually a paragon of modesty, and
strong on women's rights."

"Kate's glove is number six, and I think it's a size too big," broke in
the Colonel--we were all lying in the sun on a bank below the beeches
at the time, and the Colonel was understood to be preparing a sermon
for some meeting--"but it's a strong little hand, and a steady; she
used to be able to strike a shilling in the air at revolver practice."

"Ghost, lassie. Oh, in the Lodge, a Carnegie ghost--not one I've ever
heard of; so you may sleep in peace, and I 'm below if you feel lonely
the first night."

"You are most insulting; one would think I were a milksop. I was
hoping for a ghost--a white lady by choice. Did no Carnegie murder his
wife, for instance, through jealousy or quarrelling?"

"The Carnegies have never quarrelled," said the General, with much
simplicity; "you see the men have generally been away fighting, and the
women had never time to weary of them."

"No woman ever wearies of a man unless he be a fool and gives in to
her--then she grows sick of him. Life might be wholesome, but it would
have no smack; it would be like meat without mustard. If a man cannot
rule, he ought not to marry, for his wife will play the fool in some
fashion or other like a runaway horse, and he has half the blame. Why
did he take the box-seat?" and Kate nodded to the fire. "What are you
laughing at?"

"Perhaps I ought to be shocked, but the thought of any one trying to
rule you, Kit, tickles me immensely. I h