could in any of the fine drawing-rooms, and that
is more than could be said of some of the ladies I know. She is a good
woman, too, I am sure. As for Davie, he is a young prig--though he is
good, too, I dare say. Violet is a little modest flower. They are very
nice, all of them, but they are not beyond my powers of comprehension, I
fancy, Frank, lad."

"All right, if you think so," said Frank.

Philip was amused and a little vexed at his brother's persistency.

"Do you know them, Frank,--`understand' them, as you call it?"

"I know they are very different from us, and from all the people we know
most about, and I think I know what makes the difference, though I don't
quite understand it. You would know what I mean if you had seen Mr
Inglis and knew the kind of life he lived."

"I have seen, and I know what his character was. He was an unworldly
sort of man, I believe."

"He did not live for his own pleasure," said Frank, gravely. "He wasn't
his own. He lived to serve his Master. I can't tell you. You should
speak to Davie or Violet about him, or to Aunt Mary."

"Well, so I will, some day," said Philip.

Frank made no reply.

In the meantime Mr Philip was being just as freely discussed by the
young people they had left. Jem was delighted with their new friend.
He was a fine fellow, not at all "swell," as he had supposed. Jem grew
enthusiastic over his friendliness, his boat, his rowing, and hoped he
might come often. So did the little ones.

"David does not like him," said Violet.

"I liked him this afternoon well enough," said David.

"Yes, he was nice this afternoon; but he is not always nice with his
sisters. He is good to the little ones," said Violet.

"I dare say his sisters are not very good to him. I can easily believe
it," said Jem.

"He is not like the people we have been taught to admire," said David.

"He always thinks of himself first," said Violet. "And he is not really
in earnest about anything."

"Mamma, listen to Davie and Letty speaking evil of their neighbours,"
said Jem.

"Not speaking evil, I hope," said Mrs Inglis, "but still not speaking
with charity, I am afraid."

"I was not speaking evil of him, mamma," said Violet. "I only meant
that he does not care for anything very much, except to amuse himself.
I think he is rather foolish, but I would not speak evil of him."

"See that you don't, then," said Jem.

"He made himself very agreeable this afternoon, tha