ning to his quaint observations
of life, his stories of old times, his anecdotes, his quotations from
Plutarch or from "Dr. Johnson, sir."

An evening or two after his appearance at the club, Norman Wentworth
came in, and when the first greetings were over, General Keith inquired
warmly after his wife.

"Pray present my compliments to her. I have never had the honor of
meeting her, sir, but I have heard of her charms from my son, and I
promise myself the pleasure of calling upon her as soon as I have called
on your mother, which I am looking forward to doing this evening."

Norman's countenance changed a little at the unexpected words, for half
a dozen men were around. When, however, he spoke it was in a very
natural voice.

"Yes, my mother is expecting you," he said quietly. Mrs. Wentworth also
would, he said, be very glad to see him. Her day was Thursday, but if
General Keith thought of calling at any other time, and would be good
enough to let him know, he thought he could guarantee her being at home.
He strolled away.

"By Jove! he did it well," said one of the General's other acquaintances
when Norman was out of ear-shot.

"You know, he and his wife have quarrelled," explained Stirling to the
astonished General.

"Great Heavens!" The old gentleman looked inexpressibly shocked.

"Yes--Wickersham."

"That scoundrel!"

"Yes; he is the devil with the women."

Next evening, as the General sat with Stirling among a group, sipping
his toddy, some one approached behind him.

Stirling, who had become a great friend of the General's, greeted the
newcomer.

"Hello, Ferdy! Come around; let me introduce you to General Keith,
Gordon Keith's father."

The General, with a pleasant smile on his face, rose from his chair and
turned to greet the newcomer. As he did so he faced Ferdy Wickersham,
who bowed coldly. The old gentleman stiffened, put his hand behind his
back, and with uplifted head looked him full in the eyes for a second,
and then turned his back on him.

"I beg your pardon, Mr. Stirling, for declining to recognize any one
whom you are good enough to wish to introduce to me, but that man I must
decline to recognize. He is not a gentleman."

"I doubt if you know one," said Ferdy, with a shrug, as he strolled away
with affected indifference. But a dozen men had seen the cut.

"I guess you are right enough about that, General," said one of them.

When the General reflected on what he had done, he was