manhood. So it was with the
Duke. He had given way in regard to Isabel with less than half the
effort that Frank Tregear was likely to cost him.

"You were not at the House, sir," said Silverbridge when he felt that
there was a pause.

"No, not to-day." Then there was a pause again.

"I think that we shall beat Cambridge this year to a moral," said
Gerald, who was sitting at the round table opposite to his father.
Mr. Boncassen, who was next to him, asked, in irony probably rather
than in ignorance, whether the victory was to be achieved by
mathematical or classical proficiency. Gerald turned and looked at
him. "Do you mean to say that you have never heard of the University
boat-races?"

"Papa, you have disgraced yourself for ever," said Isabel.

"Have I, my dear? Yes, I have heard of them. But I thought Lord
Gerald's protestation was too great for a mere aquatic triumph."

"Now you are poking your fun at me," said Gerald.

"Well he may," said the Duke sententiously. "We have laid ourselves
very open to having fun poked at us in this matter."

"I think, sir," said Tregear, "that they are learning to do the same
sort of thing at the American Universities."

"Oh, indeed," said the Duke in a solemn, dry, funereal tone. And then
all the little life which Gerald's remark about the boat-race had
produced, was quenched at once. The Duke was not angry with Tregear
for his little word of defence,--but he was not able to bring himself
into harmony with this one guest, and was almost savage to him
without meaning it. He was continually asking himself why Destiny
had been so hard upon him as to force him to receive there at his
table as his son-in-law a man who was distasteful to him. And he
was endeavouring to answer the question, taking himself to task and
telling himself that his destiny had done him no injury, and that
the pride which had been wounded was a false pride. He was making a
brave fight; but during the fight he was hardly fit to be the genial
father and father-in-law of young people who were going to be married
to one another. But before the dinner was over he made a great
effort. "Tregear," he said,--and even that was an effort, for he
had never hitherto mentioned the man's name without the formal
Mister,--"Tregear, as this is the first time you have sat at my
table, let me be old-fashioned, and ask you to drink a glass of wine
with me."

The glass of wine was drunk and the ceremony afforded infinite
s