--staying,' she added to relieve him and to
lessen the confusion that amused her, 'and I see you have a companion.
Your nephew--?'

'Yes, Herbert, my late brother's son. I would not have brought him if I
had known.'

'A cousin,' she said, smiling, and shaking hands with him. 'Boys are my
delight. This is quite a new experience.'

Herbert looked up surprised, not much liking to become an experience. He
had had less intercourse with ladies than many boys of humbler
pretensions, for his mother had always scouted the idea of sending her
children to a Sunday-school, and she was neither like his mother's
friends nor his preconceived notions. 'There! for want of an
introduction, I must introduce myself. Your cousin Bertha, or Birdie,
whichever you like best.'

Frank was by no means prepared to say even Bertha, and was in agonies
lest Herbert should presume on the liberty given him; but if the boy had
been in the palace of Truth, he would have said, 'You old girl, you are
awfully old to call yourself Birdie!' For Birdie had been a pet name of
Rose Rollstone; and Bertha Morton, though slim and curly-headed, had a
worn look about her eyes, and a countenance such as to show her
five-and-thirty years, and to the eyes of fourteen was almost
antediluvian; indeed, older observers might detect a worn, haggard,
strained look. He was somewhat disgusted, too, at the thin rolls of
bread-and-butter on the low table, whence she proceeded to hand teacups,
as he thought of the substantial meals at home. When they had been
conducted to their rooms, and his uncle followed to his, he broke out
with his perpetual, 'I say, uncle, is this all the grub great swells
have? I'm awfully peckish!'

'That's early tea, my boy,' was the answer, with a smile. 'There's
dinner to come, and I hope you will behave yourself well, and not use
such expressions.'

'Dinner! that's not such a bad hearing, but I suppose one must eat it
like a judge?'

'Certainly; I am afraid I am not a very good model, but don't you do
anything you don't see me do. And, Herbert, don't take wine every time
the servants offer it.'

At which Herbert made a face.

'Have you got any evening shoes? No! If I had only known that the lady
was here! It can't be helped to-day, only wash your face and hands well;
there's some hot water.'

'Why, they ain't dirty,' said the boy, surveying them as one to whom the
remains of a journey were mere trifles, then, with a sigh, '