etting late."

"Do go, Geoff," said his mother. "I have listened to what you have said;
it is not likely I shall forget it. I will talk to you afterwards."

The boy looked rather ashamed.

"I haven't meant to vex you," he said, as he stooped to kiss his mother.
"I'm sorry you're so tired."

There was silence for a moment after he had left the room.

"I am afraid there is a mixture of truth in what he says," said Mrs.
Tudor, at last. "It has been one of the many mistakes I have made, and
now I suppose I am to be punished for it."

Elsa made a movement of impatience.

"Mamma dear!" she exclaimed, "I don't think you would speak that way if
you weren't tired. There isn't any truth in what Geoff says. I don't
mean that he tells stories; but it's just his incessant grumbling. He
makes himself believe all sorts of nonsense. He has everything right
for a boy of his age to have. I know there are boys whose parents are
really rich who have less than he has."

"Yes, indeed, mamma; Elsa is right," said Frances. "Geoff is insatiable.
He picks out the things boys here and there may have as an exception,
and wants to have them all. He has a perfect genius for grumbling."

"Because he is always thinking of himself," said Elsa. "Mamma, don't
think me disrespectful, but would it not be better to avoid saying
things which make him think himself of such consequence--like telling
him that we came to live in town principally for _his_ sake?"

"Perhaps so," said her mother. "I am always in hopes of making him
ashamed, by showing how much _has_ been done for him."

"And he does feel ashamed," said Frances, eagerly. "I saw it to-night;
he'd have liked to say something more if he hadn't been too proud to own
that he had been inventing grievances."

"Things have been too smooth for him," said Elsa; "that's the truth of
it. He needs some hardships."

"And as things are turning out he's very likely to get them," said Mrs.
Tudor, with a rather wintry smile.

"Oh, mamma, forgive me! Do you know, I had forgotten all about our money
troubles," Elsa exclaimed. "Why don't you tell Geoff about them, mamma?
It's in a way hardly fair on him; for if he knew, it _might_ make him
understand how wrong and selfish he is."

"I will tell him soon, but not just yet. I do not want to distract his
mind from his lessons, and I wish to be quite sure first. I think I
should wait till I hear from your great-uncle."

"And that will be--how long? It is h