nd of his children, who
at least stood in no fear of him. Long years of successful practice
had had a certain narrowing effect upon him; the things of his
profession were almost foremost in his mind now, and when he travelled
away from them he was duller than he once promised to be--his humour
had slowly dwindled down until he had just sufficient for ordinary
professional purposes, and none at all for private consumption.

In his favour it may be added that he was genial to all whom he did
not consider his inferiors, a good though not a demonstrative husband;
that as a lawyer he was learned without the least pedantry; and that
he was a Bencher of his Inn, where he frequently dined, and a Member
of Parliament, where he never spoke, even on legal matters.

Mabel's quick eyes were the first to notice a shade on his face and a
constraint in his manner; she went to his side and said in an
undertone, 'You are not feeling ill, papa, are you, or has anything
worried you to-day?'

'I am quite well. I have news to tell you presently,' he said in the
same tone.

'Come and see my Christmas cards before I do them up,' said Dolly from
a side-table; 'I'm going to send one to each of my friends, except
Clara Haycraft, or if I _do_ send her one,' she added thoughtfully,
'it will be only a penny one, and I shall write her name on the back
so that she can't use it again. Clara has not behaved at all well to
me lately. If I sent one to Vincent now, papa, would he get it in
time?'

'No--no,' said her father, a little sharply, 'and look here, Pussy,
run away now and see how Colin is getting on.'

'And come back and tell you?' inquired Dolly; 'very well, papa.'

'Don't come back till I send for you,' he said. 'Mind that now, Dolly,
stay in the schoolroom.'

He shut the door carefully after her, and then, turning to his wife
and daughter, he said, 'You haven't either of you seen the papers
to-day, I suppose?'

'No,' said Mrs. Langton; 'you know I never read daily papers. Gerald,'
she cried suddenly, with a light coming into her eyes, 'is another
judge dead?' Visions of her husband on the Bench, a town-house in a
more central part of London, an increase of social consideration for
herself and daughters, began to float into her brain.

* * * * *

'It's not that--if there was, I'm not likely to be offered a judgeship
just yet; it's not good news, Belle, I'm afraid it's very bad,' he
said warningly, 'v