erce negative.

"My governor never bullies his men, if you mean that, Brian. Don't you
care about your father? I don't call him a very nice sort of a father,
but then of course I needn't like him particularly, because he is only
my uncle--only a sort of an uncle too--not a real one."

Brian was a very pretty-looking boy, with auburn hair and large
innocent blue eyes. People said he had a heavenly expression, and
interpreted a mind to match.

Jessie had pulled off her sun-bonnet, and the nurse, Nan, a big bony
woman, was tying a pinafore about her. She could hardly hear the
conversation of the two boys on the other side of the room, as Maggie
and Nan were carrying on a lively exchange of question and answer.

"Cousin Jeff, I'm _quite_ sure you wouldn't like to have breakfast
down-stairs. I did once when Nan was ill, and it was quite drefful,"
called out Jessie, nodding her head gravely at the recollection. "Papa
won't let you drink if you have the least bit in your mouth, and he
says everything that is nice isn't good for children. Kidneys and
sausages, and herrings and bacon you're only allowed to smell
down-stairs. Isn't our breakfast ready now, Nan? I am so hungry."
Then the children were bidden to sit down to the table, and Jeff tasted
porridge for the first time. He did not care much about it, and
watched Maggie devour it with no little astonishment.

"Did mother always eat it, Maggie?"

"Yes, my bairn; and it's fine stuff to make growing lads."

"Well, I'll _try_ and like it," said Jeff rather doubtfully, as he made
a second valiant attempt to swallow two or three spoonfuls.

In the course of a very few days Jeff found out that his cousin Brian
was not nearly so angelic as he looked. He bullied Jessie, who was a
good-tempered little girl, and deceived his father and mother with a
wonderful amount of success.

With grandmama, who was really a keen-sighted old lady, his plausible
excuses and affectionate embraces did not meet with the same
acceptance. Not that he really cared, for he was impatient of her slow
ways, and did not feel sorry for her failing sight or feeble limbs;
only, he liked the five shillings and half-sovereigns she occasionally
bestowed, and thought that he might receive more if he pretended a
dutiful behaviour.

Jeff really, however, fell in love with the old lady at first sight.
There are very few old people to be seen in India, and the dignity and
pathos of her appearance