duct at school, that his father wanted to speak
alone with his cousin.

"May I come?"

"No, my boy. What I have to say to Anthony is for him alone."

"Humph!" said Godfrey; then whispering to Anthony as he passed, "No
tales out of school, Tony," he sauntered into the garden.

"What ails you, Anthony?" said the good-natured uncle, as he took a seat
by the table.

"I don't know," returned the lad; "I felt afraid"--he hesitated--

"Afraid of what?"

"That you were tired of me--wished me to leave you."

"I should much sooner be tired of myself. Don't you know, perverse boy,
how dearly I love you;" and he put his arm round the stripling and drew
him to his breast. "Godfrey himself is not more dear, son of my murdered
Elinor--son of my heart."

There was a long pause; at length the Colonel said, "It was of your
father that I wished to speak. We have let eight years pass away without
holding the least intercourse with him; in this, I think we have been to
blame. The first year you came to me I wrote to him twice, informing him
how you were, and suggesting your future mode of education. To my first
letter I received the following answer:--

'_To Algernon Hurdlestone, Esq._

'In adopting my son you pleased yourself. Had he remained with me I
should have provided for him. As matters at present stand, I
neither wish to be troubled with letters from him nor from you.
When you next write I would thank you to pay the _post_.

Yours, &c.,

'Marcus Hurdlestone.'

"Now, Tony, I was somewhat discouraged by this ungracious answer;
however as I knew the man, I wrote to him again and did pay the post; I
took no notice of the tenor of his letter, but merely informed him that
I had put you to school, and that you were growing a fine clever lad.
Here is his reply:--

'_To Algernon Hurdlestone, Esq._

'Next to receiving impertinent letters, I detest the trouble of
answering them. I have no money to fling away upon fools and
foolscap.

'Marcus Hurdlestone.'

"Now, my dear boy, although so far my applications to him on your behalf
have been unsuccessful, I think it only right and prudent in you to
write to him yourself, and remind this affectionate father that you are
still in the land of the living."

"And that you wish him," said Godfrey, popping his head in at the door,
where he had