y reason to expect, was the cause of his first disadvantage in
the world; and since then, in consonance with that curious natural
law which seems so contrary to justice, yet constantly consonant
with fact, this evil has been cumulative, and he has had nothing
but disappointments ever since. He has a very small living now, and
is never likely to get a better, for he is getting old, and
patrons, I am told, scarcely venture to give a cure to a man of his
age lest it should be said they were gratifying their personal
likings at the expense of the people. This seems contrary to
abstract justice in such a case; but it is a doctrine of our time
to which we must all bow.

"The young people, so far as I know, are all promising and good.
Young Churchill, whom Jock knows, is a boy for whom I have the
greatest regard. He is one whom Goethe would have described as a
beautiful soul. His sisters are engaged in educational work, and
are, I am told, in their way equally high-minded and interesting;
but naturally I know little of the female portion of the family.

"It is extremely kind of you and Sir Thomas to repeat your
invitation. I hope, perhaps at Easter, if convenient, to be able to
take advantage of it. I hear with the greatest pleasure from Jock
how much he enjoys his renewed intercourse with his home circle. It
will do him good, for his mind is full of the ideal, and it will be
of endless advantage to him to be brought back to the more ordinary
and practical interests. There are very few boys of whom it can be
said that their intellectual aspirations over-balance their
material impulses. As usual he has not only done his work this half
entirely to my satisfaction, but has more than repaid any services
I can render him by the precious companionship of a fresh and
elevated spirit.

"Believe me, dear Lady Randolph,
"Most faithfully yours,
"MAXIMUS D. DERWENTWATER."

A long-drawn breath, which sounded like a sigh, burst from Lucy's breast
as she closed this letter. She had, with humility and shrinking, yet
with a certain resolution, disclosed to her husband that when the
occasion occurred she must do her duty according to her father's will,
whether it pleased him or not. She had steeled h