s uncle. His grim,
grizzled head was stooping a little as he bent towards his niece on this
soft winter day, and he himself looked almost like the human type of a
hard, wholesome, not unkindly Winter. His high Roman nose, penthouse
brows, quick jetty eye, square well-hung chin, and above all his
sturdy, decided gait--all marked him for a Man every inch, and he did
not belie his appearance, for no manlier being walks broad England than
Robert Cassall.

He was listening a little fretfully to his niece, but her strength and
sweetness kept him from becoming too touchy. The deep contralto that we
know, said--

"Well then, you see, uncle dear, these men cannot help themselves. They
are--oh! such magnificent people--that is the country-born ones, for
some of the town men are not nice at all; but the East Coast men are so
simple and fine, but then, you know, they are so poor. Our dear Mr.
Fullerton told me that in very bad weather the best men cannot earn so
much as a scavenger can on shore."

"Yes, yes, my girl. You know I listen carefully to everything you say. I
value your talk immensely, but don't you observe, my pet, that if I help
every one who cannot help himself I may as well shorten matters by going
into the street and saying to each passer-by, 'Please accept half a
crown as _your_ share of my fortune'?"

"But the reasons are peculiar here, uncle. Oh! I do so wish Mrs. Walton
could see you. She has logic, and she reasons where I dream."

"Hah! Would you? What? Turn Mrs. Walton loose at me? No ladies here,
miss, I warn you."

"Now, please be good while I go on. I want to repeat Dr. Ferrier's
reasoning if I can. You have fish every day--mostly twice?"

"Yes, but I don't give charity to my butcher. The rascal is able to tip
_me_, if the truth were known."

"True, uncle, and you don't need to give anything to your fishmonger.
Why, you silly dear, you think you are a commercial genius, and yet the
fishmonger probably charges you ever so much per cent over and above
what the fishermen receive, because of the great expense of railway
carriage and distribution of the fish. I know that, because Mr.
Fullerton told me; so you see I've corrected you, even you, on a point
of finance."

How prettily this stern, composed young woman could put on artful airs
of youthfulness when she chose! How she had that firm, far-seeing old
man held in position, ready to be twirled round her rosy finger!

Which of us is not held in bon