f one went,
another would. Well, I shall try and show West Lynne that I don't take
a lesson from their book; I shall be there before it begins, and never
come out till the last song's over. I am not too grand to go, if West
Lynne is."

"You surely do not think of going?"

"I surely do think of it; and papa goes with me--I persuaded him; and I
have given Mr. Kane the promise."

Mr. Carlyle paused. "I am glad to hear it; it will be a perfect boon
to Kane. If it once gets abroad that Lord Mount Severn and Lady Isabel
intend to honor the concert, there won't be standing room."

She danced round with a little gleeful step. "What high and mighty
personages Lord Mount Severn and Lady Isabel seem to be! If you had any
goodness of heart, Mr. Carlyle, you would enlist yourself in the cause
also."

"I think I will," he smiled.

"Papa says you hold sway at West Lynne. If you proclaim that you mean to
go, you will induce others."

"I will proclaim that you do," he answered; "that will be all
sufficient. But, Lady Isabel, you must not expect much gratification
from the performance."

"A tambourine will be quite enough for me; I told papa so, I shan't
think of music; I shall think of poor Mr. Kane. Mr. Carlyle I know
you can be kind if you like; I know you would rather be kind than
otherwise--it is to be read in your face. Try and do what you can for
him."

"Yes, I will," he warmly answered.

Mr. Carlyle sold no end of tickets the following day, or rather caused
them to be sold. He praised up the concert far and wide, and proclaimed
that Lord Mount Severn and his daughter would not think of missing it.
Mr. Kane's house was besieged for tickets, faster than he could write
his signature in their corner; and when Mr. Carlyle went home to
luncheon at midday, which he did not often do, he laid down two at Miss
Corny's elbow.

"What's this? Concert tickets! Archibald, you have never gone and bought
these!"

What would she have said had she known that the two were not the extent
of his investment?

"Ten shillings to throw away upon two paltry bits of cardboard!" chafed
Miss Carlyle. "You always were a noodle in money matters, Archibald, and
always will be. I wish I had the keeping of your purse!"

"What I have given will not hurt me, Cornelia, and Kane is badly off.
Think of his troop of children."

"Oh, dear!" said Miss Corny. "I imagine he should think of them. I
suppose it was his own fault they came. That's always i