ry well,--as well as with any one; but he
is not fond of me."

"I am glad to hear that you can do with Theo," said the mother, much
amused.

"Yes. I don't mind him at all: but he is not fond of me; and he is sure
not to teach mamma's way, and that is the only way I know. If he were to
want to punish me, Mrs. Warrender----"

"I hope, my dear, there will be no question of that."

"I shouldn't mind," said the boy, "but mamma wouldn't like it. It might
be very awkward for Theo. You are flogged when you go to school, aren't
you? At least, all the books say so. Mamma," he went on, raising his
voice, "here is a difficulty,--a great difficulty. If Theo should want
to flog me, what should you do?"

Lady Markland did not hear him for the moment. She was absorbed!--this was
the remark made by Minnie, who watched with the intensest observation.
Then Geoff, in defiance of good manners, drummed on the table to attract
his mother's attention, and elevated his voice: "Can't you hear what I
am saying, mamma? If I were to be stupid with my lessons, and Theo were
to flog me----" ("It is only putting a case, for I am not stupid," he
added, for Mrs. Warrender's instruction, in an undertone.)

"You must not suggest anything so dreadful," said Lady Markland from the
other end of the table. "But now you must thank Mrs. Warrender, Geoff,
and Mr. Theo, and every one; for the carriage has come round, and it is
growing late, and we must go away."

Then Mrs. Warrender rose, as in duty bound, and the whole party with
her. "I will not ask you to stay; it is late for him, and he has had too
much excitement," said the mistress of the house.

"And to think I might never have brought him home at all, never heard
his voice again, but for your dear son, your good son!" cried Lady
Markland, taking both her hands, putting forward her head, with its
smooth silken locks in which the light shone, and the soft round of her
uplifted face, to the elder woman, with an emotion and tenderness which
went to Mrs. Warrender's heart. She gave the necessary kiss, but though
she was touched there was no enthusiasm in her reply.

"You must not think too much of that, Lady Markland. I hope he would
have done it for any child in danger."

This, of course, is always perfectly true; but it chills the effusion of
individual gratitude. Lady Markland raised her head, but she still held
Mrs. Warrender's hands. "I wish," she said, "oh, I wish you would tell
me frankly! D