ilter through with the mien of an
apologetic phantom, and Raikes at once established the basis of
indulgence by tentative nibbles of this and that, which were almost
Barmecidian in their meagerness, and the sister, under his sordid
supervision, followed his miserable example.

With singular perversity, in the midst of reasonable abundance, he
forbore to accept the full measure of his privileges.

The discipline of denial was essential to the austere economies he
practiced in all other directions, and his sister, rather than submit to
the hardness of his rebukes, acquiesced with dismal resignation.

Robert was able to endure the table behavior of his uncle no more than
the others, and so occupied a seat in the dining-room surrounded by more
agreeable conditions.

If this course was intended as a diplomatic frankness to indicate to
Raikes that his nephew did not expect a legacy to follow the demise of
that austere relative, no one could determine.

The young man, however, continued to sit in whatever portion of the
apartment he pleased and enjoy himself as much as the handicap of his
relationship would permit.

On this basis, as if to manifest in himself the law of compensation,
Robert grew vicariously robust, and accepted, with cynical good humor,
the irritation of his uncle over his adipose.

Raikes and his sister had the table at which they sat entirely to
themselves.

Only on the infrequent occasions of congestion had others been known to
occupy seats at the same board.

It was more than hungry human nature, as embodied in most of the
inmates, could stand to witness this exasperating refusal to accept a
reasonable measure of what was set before them; a disability to which
the scarcely concealed scowls of the exacting miser added the chill
finishing touch.

One morning, however, a new boarder arrived.

Accommodations could not be found for him at the other tables, and, as
was the custom of the widow under such circumstances, he was intruded
upon the society of this morbid duet, after the manner of his
predecessors.

If the usual rebellion matured at such association on the part of this
recent guest, the landlady expected to be assisted by one of those
vacancies which occur with such incalculable irregularity, yet
reasonable certainty, in establishments of this character.

At this a prompt transfer would be effected.

This, however, was an unusual boarder.

If his presence was obnoxious to Raikes, th