ugent, who had followed young
Godfrey.

'Now, Miss Mary,' cried Nuttie, 'as if I could shorten my holiday now
that I have it.'

'And I don't see what business he had to call you to account,' said
Gerard. 'A stuck-up fellow.'

'Of course all the Egremonts are set against my being here,' said
Nuttie.

'I thought the Canon offered to bring you last year,' said Mary gently.

'Oh, that was only to Monks Horton! It would have been simply
tantalising.'

'Lady Kirkaldy is an excellent person,' said Miss Nugent.

'Is she at home now?' asked Ursula.

'Coming next week, they tell me,' said Gerard.

'He--your cousin--will always be loafing up there now, giving up all
that he had undertaken, I suppose.'

'Not very likely,' said Mary quietly.

It is a mere Scottish anti-church influence,' said Gerard, turning
round at the swing-door of his office. 'Why else will Egremont not
take the pledge?'

Wherewith he disappeared, blue ribbon and all, while Mary smiled,
though she was vexed; and Nuttie observed, 'Poor Gerard; but I can't
see why he should be jealous of Mark _now_.'

Mary did not choose to understand what Nuttie implied in her
simplicity, and made answer, 'He is rather blue ribbon mad. Besides, I
am afraid the fact of being a "swell" does not conduce to your cousin's
popularity among the clerks.'

'Surely he does not give himself airs,' said Ursula, her family
feelings awaking.

'No; but I fancy he is rather reserved.'

'What's this about giving up what he has undertaken? What is it?'

'When Mr. Dutton went to London, he asked Mark to take his Sunday
afternoons with the big lads. He thought they wanted some one with
more resources and variety than there is in poor Gerard, who didn't at
all like being passed over.'

'I never should have thought it of Mark. He never dreamt of teaching
anybody at home.'

'Very likely not, but there is an atmosphere at St. Ambrose's.'

'And oh, how glad I am to be in it! I wonder how long they will let me
stay! The dear little mother will try to get me a Sunday here, if she
dares. Indeed, I can't hear before Saturday, and then there would
hardly be time to get home! Oh, that's jolly! I'll go to the nursery
gardens, and get _such_ flowers for the vases!'

Saturday brought Nuttie a letter, but not from her mother--

'My Dear Ursula--I write because we are anxious to keep your mother as
quiet as possible. It was a serious shock to her to find that you had
le