said Jack, shaking his head,--"though I know
how generous you are."

"Why wouldn't it do?"

"You are the heir, and you must take the duties with the privileges. You
can have your yacht if you like a yacht,--but you'll soon get tired of
that kind of life. I take it that a yacht is a bad place for a nursery,
and inconvenient for one's old boots. When a man has a home fixed for
him by circumstances,--as you will have,--he gravitates towards it,
let his own supposed predilections be what they may. Circumstances are
stronger than predilections."

"You're a philosopher."

"I was always more sober than you, Fred."

"I wish you had been the elder,--on the condition of the younger brother
having a tidy slice out of the property to make himself comfortable."

"But I am not the elder, and you must take the position with all the
encumbrances. I see nothing for it but to ask Miss O'Hara to wait. If my
uncle lives long the probability is that one or the other of you will
change your minds, and that the affair will never come off."

When the younger and wiser brother gave this advice he did not think
it all likely that Miss O'Hara would change her mind. Penniless young
ladies don't often change their minds when they are engaged to the heirs
of Earls. It was not at all probable that she should repent the bargain
that she had made. But Jack Neville did think it very probable that his
brother might do so;--and, indeed, felt sure that he would do so if
years were allowed to intervene. His residence in County Clare would not
be perpetual, and with him in his circumstances it might well be that
the young lady, being out of sight, should be out of mind. Jack could
not exactly declare his opinion on this head. His brother at present was
full of his promise, full of his love, full of his honour. Nor would
Jack have absolutely counselled him to break his word to the young
lady. But he thought it probable that in the event of delay poor Miss
O'Hara might go to the wall;--and he also thought that for the general
interests of the Scroope family it would be better that she should do
so.

"And what are you going to do yourself?" asked Fred.

"In respect of what?"

"In respect of Miss Mellerby?"

"In respect of Miss Mellerby I am not going to do anything," said Jack
as he walked away.

In all that the younger brother said to the elder as to poor Kate O'Hara
he was no doubt wise and prudent; but in what he said about himself he
did no