g about in his chair, gave a sudden kick
out with his right leg, and felt something soft as his uncle uttered a
savage yell, and thrust his chair back from the table.

"I--I beg your pardon, uncle, I did not know that--"

"You did, sir," cried the old man furiously, as he shook his fist at the
boy. "You did it maliciously; out of spite, because I want to make a
man of you. Bless me, Harry," he continued, "if you don't take that
young scoundrel out into the hall and thrash him, I'll never darken your
doors again. Dear--dear--dear--dear! Bless my soul! Ah!"

The poor old admiral had risen, and was limping about when Sydney went
after him.

"Uncle," he began.

"Bah!" ejaculated the old man, grasping him by the collar. "Here he is,
brother Harry; I've got him. Now then, take him out."

"I'm very sorry, uncle," said Sydney. "I didn't know it was your gouty
leg there."

"Then, you did do it on purpose, sir?"

"No, I didn't, uncle. I wouldn't have been such a coward."

"Of course he wouldn't," said the doctor. "But there, sir, sit down;
the pain is gone off now."

"How do you know?" cried the admiral. "It's as if ten thousand red-hot
irons were searing it. Harry, you've spoiled that boy."

"No, I join issue there," said Captain Belton. "You've indulged him ten
times more than ever I have, Tom."

"It is not true, brother Harry," said the admiral, limping to his chair.

"Oh yes, it is. Hasn't your uncle spoiled you, Sydney, far more than I
have?"

"No, father," replied the boy, quietly, as he helped the old admiral to
sit down, and placed an ottoman under his injured leg.

"Thankye, boy, thankye. And you're not so bad as I said; 'tis quite
true, it's your father's doing."

"I think you've both spoiled me," said Sydney, quietly; and the doctor
helped himself to another glass of port to hide his mirth.

"Won't do, Liss, you're laughing. I can see you," said the admiral.
"That's just what you doctors enjoy, seeing other people suffer, so that
you may laugh and grow fat."

"Oh, I was not laughing at your pain," said the doctor, quietly, "but at
Sydney's judgment. He is quite right, you do both spoil him."

"What?"

"He has three times as much money to spend as is right, and I wonder he
does not waste it more. Well, Syd, my boy, so they will not let you be
a doctor?"

Sydney frowned, and cracked a walnut till the shell and nut were all
crushed together.

"And so you are to make up your m