you wish and
ask no questions; I will obey you with my life; treat me as a son, and
you will find I have a son's devotion."

A deplorable explosion of oaths was the Dictator's first reply.

"Son and father?" he cried. "Father and son? What d----d unnatural
comedy is all this? How do you come in my garden? What do you want? And
who, in God's name, are you?"

Francis, with a stunned and shamefaced aspect, got upon his feet again,
and stood in silence.

Then a light seemed to break upon Mr. Vandeleur, and he laughed aloud.

"I see," cried he. "It is the Scrymgeour. Very well, Mr. Scrymgeour. Let
me tell you in a few words how you stand. You have entered my private
residence by force, or perhaps by fraud, but certainly with no
encouragement from me; and you come at a moment of some annoyance, a
guest having fainted at my table, to besiege me with your protestations.
You are no son of mine. You are my brother's bastard by a fishwife, if
you want to know. I regard you with an indifference closely bordering on
aversion; and from what I now see of your conduct, I judge your mind to
be exactly suitable to your exterior. I recommend you these mortifying
reflections for your leisure; and, in the meantime, let me beseech you
to rid us of your presence. If I were not occupied," added the Dictator,
with a terrifying oath, "I should give you the unholiest drubbing ere
you went!"

Francis listened in profound humiliation. He would have fled had it been
possible; but as he had no means of leaving the residence into which he
had so unfortunately penetrated, he could do no more than stand
foolishly where he was.

It was Miss Vandeleur who broke the silence.

"Father," she said, "you speak in anger. Mr. Scrymgeour may have been
mistaken, but he meant well and kindly."

"Thank you for speaking," returned the Dictator. "You remind me of some
other observations which I hold it a point of honour to make to Mr.
Scrymgeour. My brother," he continued, addressing the young man, "has
been foolish enough to give you an allowance; he was foolish enough and
presumptuous enough to propose a match between you and this young lady.
You were exhibited to her two nights ago; and I rejoice to tell you that
she rejected the idea with disgust. Let me add that I have considerable
influence with your father; and it shall not be my fault if you are not
beggared of your allowance and sent back to your scrivening ere the week
be out."

The tones of the