t
to him there!" answered Taters, with a contemptuous glance toward
Jerome.

Emma took the letter, which was inclosed in a wonderfully dingy yellow
envelope, and she read the superscription, and then called to Laura,
saying:

"Come here, my dear. Here is a letter from Lytton Lodge for you."

Laura Lytton, who, with Electra, had been standing just within the
drawing-room door, near enough to observe the group, but not to hear the
whole of their conversation, now came when she was called and received
her letter.

"It is from dear Uncle Jacky," she said, with an affectionate smile, as
she recognized the handwriting.

And then she asked the messenger a multitude of questions, which he was
too much agitated to answer coherently, until at length Miss Cavendish
said:

"Jerome, take the poor fellow into the kitchen and give him something to
eat and drink. There is nothing like beef and beer to exorcise evil
spirits. And when he is rested and refreshed we will see him again."

And Jerome took Taters rather roughly by the shoulder and pulled him
upon his feet and carried him along the hall through the back door
toward the kitchen.

"Will you excuse me now, dear Emma, while I read my uncle's letter?"
inquired Laura, as she retreated to the drawing-room.

"Certainly," smiled Miss Cavendish, following her guests.

Laura went into the recess of a bay-window and opened the dingy yellow
envelope and read as follows:

"LYTTON LODGE, April --, 18--.

"MY DEAR NIECE:--I think my nephew, Alden, has a more correcter
ideer of what is jue to kin and kith than what you have shown.

"Alden is spending his Easter holidays along of me and his
relations.

"But you haven't been nigh the house since you left it to go to
school. You do seem to be so wrapped up in the Cavendishers as
not to think anything of your own folks.

"Now I can tell you what it is. The Lyttonses are a great deal
older and better family than all the Cavendishers that ever
lived. I don't care if they was governors of the state.

"I have heard my grandfather, who was a scholar, say that the
Lyttonses was landed gentry in the old country long before the
Cavendishers followed of their lord and marster William the
Conkerer across the channil. And so I don't approve of your
sliting of the Lyttonses for them there Cavendishers. Spesherly
as you're a Lytton yourself. And if we don'