st enemy never called me selfish," was the balm that
he ever laid on his chafed spirit, and always with success. It would,
however, have been rather the part of friend, than of enemy, to have
whispered that selfishness was the very bane and poison of his nature.
It was his impulse in all the wasteful extravagance of his early life;
it was his motive in all the struggles of his adversity. To sustain
a mock rank, to affect a mock position, to uphold a mock standard of
gentility, he was willing to submit to a thousand privations of his
children and himself; and to gratify a foolish notion of family pride,
he was ready to endure anything, even to separation from all he held
dearest.

"Lady Hester's courier has come for the answer to her note, papa," said
Nelly, twice over, before Dalton heard her, for he was deep sunk in his
own musings.

"Let him come in and have a glass of wine," said Dalton. "I 'd like to
ask him a few questions about these people."

"Oh, papa!" whispered Nelly, in a tone at once so reproachful, that the
old man colored and looked away.

"I meant about what time they were to start on the journey," said he,
confusedly.

"Lady Hester told us they should leave this to-morrow, sir."

"Short notice for us. How is Kate to have all her clothes packed,
and everything arranged? I don't think that is treating us with much
respect, Nelly."

"They have waited four days for our decision, papa remember that."

"Ay, to be sure. I was forgetting that; and she came every day to press
the matter more and more; and there was no end to the note-writing
besides. I must say that nothing could beat their politeness. It was a
mighty nice attention, the old man coming himself to call here; and a
fine, hale, good-looking man he is! a better figure than ever his son
will be. I don't much like Mr. George, as they call him."

"Somewhat colder, and more reserved, I think, than the other," said
Nelly. "But about this answer, papa?"

"What a hurry they're in. Is it a return to a writ, that they must
press for it this way? Well, well, I ought to be used to all manner of
interruptions and disturbances by this time. Fetch me a caudle, till I
seal it;" and he sighed, as he drew forth his old-fashioned watch, to
which, by a massive steel chain, the great family seal was attached',
firmly persuaded that in the simple act he was about to perform he was
achieving a mighty labor, at the cost of much fatigue.

"No rest for the wick