with the great man of the family, who might prove a powerful friend to
his friendless relative.

My uncle was from home, which would afford me an opportunity of
speaking for myself. I was anxious to make a favourable impression on
Sir Alexander, and took an unusual degree of pains with my toilet.

I joined Sir Alexander in the drawing-room, just as the footman
announced that dinner was on the table.

Sir Alexander received me, and my apologies for detention in the
office, with a mighty good grace, shook me warmly by the hand, and
accompanied me into the dining-room, with the air of a man who was
determined not to be cheated out of his dinner, and anxious to make up
for lost time.

I did the honours as well as I could; but not without committing sundry
awkward blunders; greatly to the horror of Saunders, who with toe and
elbow, gave me various silent hints upon the subject, as he glided
noiselessly to and fro. This only increased my confusion, but,
fortunately, my worthy relative was too much engrossed with his dinner,
to notice the trifling omissions, which poor Saunders considered of
such immense importance.

I was greatly relieved when the cloth was removed; and the wine and
glasses were placed upon the table, and Sir Alexander and I were left
alone to improve our acquaintance.

He commenced the conversation by introducing the very subject uppermost
in my mind.

"Did I mistake you, young gentleman, or did you tell me, that you were
a son of the late Edward Moncton?"

"His only son."

"I was not aware of his marriage--still less that he left a son. It is
strange, that I should have been kept in ignorance of this important
fact."

This was said half musingly. He then turned to me with a lively air.

"Your father, young gentleman, deeply offended me. It was a foolish
affair; but it effectually severed the friendship of years. We repent
of these things when it is too late. Had he been less violent, and less
obstinate, a reconciliation might have been brought about. As it
was--interested parties did their best to widen the breach.

"Edward and I were school-fellows; and though little harmony existed
between the elder branches of the family, we loved like brothers. He
was a handsome, generous, high-spirited fellow, but rash and
extravagant. While at school he was always in debt and difficulty, to
the great annoyance of his money-loving father, who looked upon me as
the aider and abettor in all his scrapes.