family quarrels."

"Now, father," he continued in a straightforward but respectful manner,
"Anne will answer any question to prove what I have already told
you--that it is at my own request she takes me for her steward."

"Her friend and adviser," Anne interposed.

"I never doubted, Nathanael, that it was at your own request. Otherwise
it were impossible that Miss Valery would so far have insulted my
family."

At these words Anne coloured, and moved a step or two with something of
the pride of her young days. "I did not think, Mr. Harper, that it
would have been either an insult to offer, or a disgrace to accept, the
position which your son desires to hold. Far be it from me in any way to
wrong any member of your family, especially the son whom your wife left
in my arms--and Brian's--when she died."

Agatha had never before heard Miss Valery say "Brian." She was evidently
speaking as people do when much moved, using a form of phrase and
alluding to things not commonly referred to.

The old Squire sat silent a minute, and then stretched out his hand. "I
know your goodness, Anne! But I cannot renounce all my rights. Even a
younger son must not throw discredit on his family. Except in one brief
instance, for centuries there has never been a Harper who worked for his
living."

"Then, father, let me be the first to commence that act of inconceivable
boldness and energy," said Nathanael, with a good-humoured persuasive
smile. "Let me, being likewise a younger son, take a leaf out of Uncle
Brian's book, and try to labour, as he once did, in my own county, with
the honour of my own race about me."

"And what did he effect? Was he not looked down upon, humiliated,
cheated? I never ride past his old deserted clay-pits without being
thankful that he went to Canada, rather than have disgraced us by what
his folly must have come to at last. He would have lost the little he
had--have been bankrupt, perhaps dishonoured."

"Mr. Harper!"--Anne rose from her chair--"I think you speak rather
hardly of your brother. It never could be said, or will be said, that
Brian Harper was _dishonoured._"

At these words, spoken with unusual warmth, Nathanael gratefully clasped
her hand. The Squire observed, with added dignity, that no one could be
more sensible than himself of his brother's merit, and that he thanked
Miss Valery for extending her kind interests to every branch of the
Harper family.

"And now," he continued, "we will cea