ail, or they may marry. I was only speaking of the natural
consequences of the present state of affairs, should nothing intervene
to prevent such a conclusion."

"Harry will never grow to be like Mr Green," said Fanny, gravely.
"Graeme will not let him."

"There is something in that," said Arthur.

"There is a great deal in that," said Mr Millar.

"There are a great many to keep Harry from a fate like that, besides
me," said Graeme, "even if there was any danger to one of his loving and
generous nature."

She was more in earnest than the occasion seemed to call for.

"Graeme," said Fanny, eagerly, "you don't suppose Arthur is in earnest.
He thinks there is no one like Harry."

Arthur laughed.

"I don't think there are many like him, certainly, but he is not beyond
spoiling, and Graeme, and you, too, make a great deal too much of him, I
am afraid."

"If that would spoil one, you would have been spoiled long ago," said
Graeme, laughing.

"Oh! that is quite another matter; but as to Harry, it is a good thing
that Rose is coming home, to divert the attention of you two from him a
while," added he, as his brother came into the room. "And you will do
your best to spoil her, too, if some of the rest of us don't counteract
your influence."

"What is it all about?" said Harry. "Are you spoiling your son, Fanny?
Is that the matter under discussion?"

"No. It is you that we are spoiling, Graeme and I. We admire you quite
too much, Arthur says, and he is afraid we shall do the same for Rose."

"As for Rose, I am afraid the spoiling process must have commenced
already, if admiration will do it," said Harry. "If one is to believe
what Norman says, she has been turning a good many heads out there."

"So that her own head is safe, the rest cannot be helped," said Graeme,
with a little vexation. It was not Harry's words, so much as his tone,
that she disliked. He shrugged his shoulders.

"Oh! as to that, I am not sure. I don't think she tried to help it.
Why should she? It is her natural and proper sphere of labour--her
vocation. I think she enjoyed it, rather."

"Harry, don't! I can't bear to hear you speak of Rose in that way."

"Oh! my speaking of it can't make any difference, you know; and if you
don't believe me, you can ask Charlie. He is my authority for the last
bit of news of Rosie."

Charlie looked up astonished and indignant, and reddened as he met
Graeme's eye.

"I don't understand you,