ut she is so excitable that I must try to keep her as quiet as
possible.'

'Right,' said the captain; 'I like to see a child a child still. You
must have had some tussles with that little spirit.'

'A few,' she said, smiling. 'She is a very good girl now, but it has
been rather a contrast with her brother.'

'Ha!' quoth the captain; and mindful of the milk-sop charge, Honora
eagerly continued, 'You will soon see what a spirit he has! He rides
very well, and is quite fearless. I have always wished him to be with
other boys, and there are some very nice ones near us--they think him a
capital cricketer, and you should see him run and vault.'

'He is an active-looking chap,' his uncle granted.

'Every one tells me he is quite able to make his way at school; I am only
anxious to know which public school you and your brother would prefer.'

'How old is he?'

'Only twelve last month, though you would take him for fifteen.'

'Twelve; then there would be just time to send him to Portsmouth, get him
prepared for a naval cadetship, then, when I go out with Sir David
Horfield, I could take him under my own eye, and make a man of him at
once.'

'Oh! Captain Charteris,' cried Honora, aghast, 'his whole bent is towards
his father's profession.'

The captain had very nearly whistled, unable to conceive any lad of
spirit preferring study.

'Whatever Miss Charlecote's wishes may be, Kit,' interposed the
diplomatic elder brother, 'we only desire to be guided by them.'

'Oh no, indeed,' cried Honor; 'I would not think of such a
responsibility, it can belong only to his nearer connections;' then,
feeling as if this were casting him off to be pressed by the sailor the
next instant, she added, in haste--'Only I hoped it was understood--if
you will let me--the expenses of his education need not be considered.
And if he _might_ be with me in the holidays,' she proceeded imploringly.
'When Captain Charteris has seen more of him, I am sure he will think it
a pity that his talents . . .' and there she stopped, shocked at finding
herself insulting the navy.

'If a boy have no turn that way, it cannot be forced on him,' said the
captain, moodily.

Honora pitied his disappointment, wondering whether he ascribed it to her
influence, and Mr. Charteris blandly expressed great obligation and more
complete resignation of the boy than she desired; disclaimers ran into
mere civilities, and she was thankful to the captain for saying, sho