heir senses.

"By no means," said Philip; "I never was more in earnest in my life."

"I have always thought just what I now say," protested Mrs Enderby.

"Yes, my dear ma'am," said the daughter, scornfully, "we are all aware
of your ways of thinking on some points--of your--"

"Of my mother's love of justice and neighbourly temper," said Philip,
giving his little nephew a glorious somerset from his shoulder. "I
believe, if we could find my mother's match, the two would be an
excellent pair to put into Eddystone lighthouse. They would chat away
for a twelvemonth together without ever quarrelling."

"Philip, do let that poor boy alone," said mamma. "You are shaking him
to pieces."

"We have both had enough for the present, eh, Ned? Mother, I am at your
service, if you are going to call at the Greys."

Mrs Enderby rose with great alacrity.

"Come to me, my pet," cried mamma. "Poor Ned shall rest his head in
mamma's lap. There, there, my pet!"

Mamma's pet was not the most agreeable companion to her when they were
left alone: he was crying lustily after uncle Philip, for all mamma
could say about uncle Philip always tiring him to death.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

PREPARING FOR HOME.

The affair proceeded rapidly, as such affairs should do where there is
no reason for delay. There was no more talk of Birmingham. The journey
which was to have been taken in a few days was not spoken of again. The
external arrangements advanced well, so many as there were anxious about
this part of the matter, and accomplished in habits of business. Mr
Rowland was happy to let the corner-house to Mr Hope, not even taking
advantage, as his lady advised, of its being peculiarly fit for a
surgeon's residence, from its having a door round the corner (made to be
a surgery-door!), to raise the rent. Mr Rowland behaved handsomely
about everything, rent, alterations, painting, and papering, and laying
out the garden anew. Mr Grey bestirred himself to get the affairs at
Birmingham settled; and he was soon enabled to inform Mr Hope that
Hester's fortune was ascertained, and that it was smaller than could
have been wished. He believed his cousins would have seventy pounds
a-year each, and no more. It was some compensation for the mortifying
nature of this announcement, that Mr Hope evidently did not care at all
about the matter. He was not an ambitious, nor yet a luxurious man: his
practice supplied an income sufficient for the e