nd by I hears his gun, and I sees him a-picking up of
the rook that her ladyship set such store by, so it is due to myself, my
lord, to let you know as I were not to blame.'

'Certainly not, Best,' was the reply. 'I am exceedingly displeased that
my nephew has behaved so ill to you, and I shall let him know it.'

'His lordship will give it to him hot and strong, the young upstart,'
muttered Best to himself with great satisfaction, as he watched the
languid pace quicken to overtake the boy, who had gone on with his
sister.

Perhaps the irritability of illness had some effect upon the ordinary
gentleness of Lord Northmoor's temper, and besides, he was exceedingly
annoyed at such ungrateful slaughter of what was known to be a favourite
of his wife; so when he came upon Herbert, sauntering down to the
stables, he accosted him sharply with, 'What is this I hear, Herbert? I
could not have believed that you would have deliberately killed the
creature that you knew to be a special delight to your aunt.'

Herbert had reached the state of mind when a third, if not a fourth,
reproach on the same subject on which his conscience was already uneasy,
was simply exasperating, and without the poor excuse he had offered his
aunt and sister, he burst out that it was very hard that such a beastly
row should be made about a fellow knocking down mere trumpery vermin.

'Speak properly, Herbert, or hold your tongue,' said his uncle. 'I am
extremely displeased at finding that you do not know how to conduct
yourself to my servants, and have presumed to act in this lawless,
heartless manner, in defiance of what you knew to be your aunt's wishes
and my orders, and that you replied to Best's remonstrance with
insolence.'

'That's a good one! Insolent to an old fool of a keeper,' muttered
Herbert sullenly.

'Insolence is shameful towards any man,' returned his uncle. 'And from a
foolish headstrong boy to a faithful old servant it is particularly
unbecoming. However, bad as this is, it is not all that I have to speak
of.'

Then Herbert recollected with dismay how much his misdemeanour would tell
against his pardon for the more important act of disobedience, and he
took refuge in a sullen endeavour at indifference, while his uncle,
thoroughly roused, spoke of the sins of disobedience and the dangers of
betting. Perhaps the only part of the lecture that he really heard was,
'Remember, it was these habits in those who came before us that