that from its youth upwards it never could have been
guilty of deceiving any one.) "May I ring and tell John to have all the
carving knives sharpened? it would be more satisfactory to my feelings
not to be slaughtered with a blunt weapon."

"Don't talk in that way, Frederick," cried Mrs. Coleman. "I'm sure your
father would never think of doing such dreadful things; but I believe
you're only making fun of him, which isn't at all right of you. I'm not
a bit surprised at his being angry with you, when you know how steady
he always says he was as a young man (not that I ever quite believe it,
though); _he_ never went ringing bells, however late he might stay out
at night, that I heard of (though I should never have known it if he
had, very likely). I don't myself see any great harm in it, you know,
Mr. Fairless, particularly after your saving poor Clara Saville, and
Freddy from drowning, when you were all boys together--indeed I shall
always have the highest opinion of you for it, only I wish you had never
done it at all, either of you, because of making your father so angry,
you I mean, Frederick."

"Have you received any account of Miss Saville this morning?" inquired
I, anxious to change the conversation; for I could see that Freddy,
despite his assumed indifference, was a good deal annoyed at the
serious light in which the old gentleman seemed to look upon our
~143~~_escapade_. "I should be glad to know that she was none the worse
for all the alarm she must have suffered."

"No, we have not heard anything of her," replied Lucy. "Should we not
send to inquire after her, aunt?"

"Certainly, my dear Lucy; I am glad you have reminded me; I always meant
to send, only all this has put it out of my head."

"Now, Frank, there's a splendid chance for you," exclaimed Freddy;
"nothing can be more correct than for you to call and make the proper
inquiries in person; and then if old Stiff-back should happen not to be
at home, and you can contrive to get let in, and the young lady be not
actually a stone----"

"Indeed, Frederick, she is nothing of the kind," interrupted Lucy
warmly; "if you only knew her, you would be astonished to find what deep
warm feelings are concealed beneath that calm manner of hers; but she
has wonderful self-control. I could see last night how much she was
grieved at being obliged to go away without having thanked Mr. Fairlegh
for saving her."

"Give her a chance to repair the error to-day, by all