ny years with his brother, Wat Butler, as
good a soldier as ever wore the cloth."

"Are you aware that his widow and son are in this neighborhood?" asked
Mrs. Trafford.

"No; but it would give me great pleasure to see them. Wat and I were in
the same regiment in India. I commanded the company when he joined us.
And how did he leave them?"

"On short rations," broke in old Graham. "Indeed, if It was n't for Lyle
Abbey, I suspect very hard up at times."

"Nothing of the kind, Commodore," broke in Mrs. Trafford. "You have
been quite misinformed. Mrs. Butler is, without affluence, perfectly
independent; and more so even in spirit than in fortune."

A very significant smile from Maitland seemed to say that he recognized
and enjoyed her generous advocacy of her friend.

"Perhaps you could do something, General, for his son?" cried Mrs.
Maxwell.

"What sort of a lad is he?"

"Don't ask me, for I don't like him; and don't ask my sisters, for they
like him too well," said Mark.

"Have you met him, Mr. Maitland?" asked the General.

"Yes, but passingly. I was struck, however, by his good looks and manly
bearing. The country rings with stories of his courage and intrepidity."

"And they are all true," said Isabella Lyle. "He is the best and bravest
creature breathing."

"There's praise,--that's what I call real praise," said the General.
"I'll certainly go over and see him after that."

"I 'll do better, General," said Mrs. Maxwell; "I 'll send over and ask
him here to-morrow. Why do you shake your head, Bella? He 'll not come?"

"No," said she, calmly.

"Not if you and Alice were to back my request?"

"I fear not," said Alice. "He has estranged himself of late from
every one; he has not been even once to see us since he came back from
England."

"Then Mark will go and fetch him for us," said Mrs. Maxwell, the most
unobservant of all old ladies.

"Not I, madam; nor would that be the way to secure him."

"Well, have him we must," said Mrs. Maxwell; while she added in a
whisper to Mrs. Trafford, "It would never do to lose the poor boy such a
chance."

"Beck says, if some one will drive her over to the Causeway," cried the
Commodore, "she'll vouch for success, and bring young Tony back with
her."

"Mr. Maitland offers himself," said Alice, whose eyes sparkled with fun,
while her lips showed no trace of a smile.

"Take the phaeton, then," said Mrs. Maxwell; "only there will be no
place for young Butler; b