giment."

"No, sir, he's not in the service," said she, flushing.

"Ah! a civilian, then. Well, madam, the Butlers have shown capacity in
all careers."

"My poor boy has not had the chance given him as yet, Mr. Maitland.
We were too poor to think of a profession; and so, waiting and hoping,
though it 's not very clear for what, we let the time slip over; and
there he is a great grown man! as fine a young fellow as you ever looked
on, and as good as handsome; but yet he cannot do one hand's turn that
would give him bread; and yet, ask your friends at the Abbey if there's
a grace or gift of a gentleman he is not the master of."

"I think I know how the Lyles speak of him, and what affection they bear
him."

"Many would condemn me, sir," cried she, warming with the one theme that
engaged her whole heart, "for having thrown my boy amongst those so
far above him in fortune, and given him habits and ways that his own
condition must deny him; but it was my pride to see him in the station
that his father held, and to know that he became it. I suppose there
are dangers in it, too," said she, rather answering his grave look than
anything he had said. "I take it, sir, there are great temptations,
mayhap over-strong temptations, for young natures."

Maitland moved his head slightly, to imply that he assented.

"And it's not unlikely the poor boy felt that himself; for when he came
home t' other night he looked scared and worn, and answered me shortly
and abruptly in a way he never does, and made me sit down on the
spot and write a letter for him to a great man who knew his father,
asking--it is hard to say what I asked, and what I could have expected."

"Colonel Butler's son can scarcely want friends, madam," said Maitland,
courteously.

"What the world calls friends are usually relatives, and we have but one
who could pretend to any sort of influence; and his treatment of my poor
husband debars us from all knowledge of him. He was an only brother, a
certain Sir Omerod Butler. You may, perhaps, have heard of him?"

"Formerly British Minister at Naples, I think?"

"The same, sir; a person, they tell me, of great abilities, but very
eccentric, and peculiar,--indeed, so his letters bespeak him."

"You have corresponded with him then, madam?"

"No, sir, never; but he wrote constantly to my husband before our
marriage. They were at that time greatly attached to each other; and the
elder, Sir Omerod, was always planning an