uly ways. But Philip Price never carried
tales out of school. Not from himself did his mother learn how tried
the tutor was, but, with a woman's instinct, she divined the cause.

'I wish, dear, you had never seen that family, the Carnegys,' she said
plaintively. It was a chance shot, of course, but Philip started up
alert.

'I've been told a good deal about them, only to-day,' went on the
widow, taking up some fleecy knitting. The mother and son were sitting
in the twilight, and knitting needed no spectacles. 'It seems they are
an ill-governed pack, the young people, neglected by their father, and
allowed to grow up anyhow, people say. Philip, I feel quite positive
that they try you beyond your strength. Is it not so? Tell me, my
dear.'

'Mother,'--Philip's thin face flushed as he spoke hurriedly,--'is it
quite fair of you to quote "they say" about people whom you don't know?
The Carnegys are not an "ill-governed pack," I assure you. The
boys--my pupils--are, I grant you, unmanageable young rebels; but the
others--Miss Carnegy and her little sister--they are----' Philip
stopped abruptly.

'Well, Phil?' His mother raised her head quickly to glance at the
troubled face opposite.

'They are as sweet and gentle-natured as they are fair!' said Philip in
a low voice.

'I should like very well to see and know these Misses Carnegy for
myself,' presently observed Mrs. Price; and Philip noted the faint,
jealous displeasure in her voice.

'Mother,' he laughed in a boyish way, 'one of those Misses Carnegy, as
you call them, is so charming that you could not resist taking her in
your arms and setting her on your lap!'

'Oh, they are only children, these girls?'

'One of them is,' rejoined Philip, after a hesitating pause. 'She is a
child of five. But the other Miss Carnegy is grown up; she is the
eldest, and the mainstay of the family. There is no mother, you see.'

'Ah! Poor dear young things! Well, but, my boy, the thing troubling
me most is that you should be condemned to such poor work as teaching,
when, by rights, you ought to be filling a far different position. Oh,
Philip, to think with your fine abilities you should be nothing better
than a mere drudge! I often wish, dear, that you had not been so
obstinate. You might have had a capital position by this time, with
one or other of your uncles in the City.'

'Hush, mother, please!' Philip raised his thin hand. 'You know that
from my childhoo