asp the pitiful,
irreparable waste it had involved of a talent bordering on genius.

She pursed her lips obstinately together.

"There'll come no blessing with money that's earned by mere
pleasuring," she averred.

"If you only knew what hard work it means to be a successful musician,
Aunt Eliza, you'd be less drastic in your criticism," interposed Nan,
with warmth.

Eliza's shrewd eyes twinkled.

"You work hard, don't you, my dear?" she observed drily.

Nan laughed, colouring a little.

"Perhaps I should work harder if Uncle David didn't spoil me so. You
know he's increased my allowance lately?"

Eliza snorted indignantly.

"I always kent he was mair fulish than maist o' his sex."

"It's rather an endearing kind of foolishness," remarked Sandy.

His mother eyed him sharply.

"We're not put into the world to be endearing," she retorted, "but to
do our duty."

"It might be possible to combine both," suggested Sandy.

"Well, you're not the one to do it," she answered grimly. "And what's
Penelope doing?" she continued, turning to Nan. "She's more sense than
the rest of ye put together, for all she's so daft about music."

"Penelope," said Sandy solemnly, "is preparing to enter upon the duties
and privileges of matrimony."

"What may you mean by that?"

Sandy stirred his tea while Eliza waited impatiently for his answer.

"She's certainly 'walking out,'" he maintained.

"And that's by no means the shortest road to matrimony," snapped Eliza.
"My cook's been walking out with the village carpenter ever since she
came to St. Wennys, but she's no nearer a wedding ring than she was
twelve months ago."

"I think," observed Sandy gravely, "that greater success will attend
Penelope's perambulations. Kitty was so cock-a-hoop over it that she
couldn't refrain from 'phoning the good news on Sunday morning. I
meant to tell you when you came back from church, but clean forgot."

"And who's the man?"

"Penelope's young man? Oh, Ralph Fenton, the fellow who makes
'pleasuring' pay so uncommonly well. He's been occupying an
ignominious position at the wheels of Penelope's chariot ever since
they both came to Mallow. I think Kitty Seymour would make a
matrimonial agent _par excellence_--young men and maidens introduced
under the most favourable circumstances and _no_ fee when
suited!"--Sandy flourished his arms expressively.

"And if she could find a good, sensible lassie to tak' ye in hand,
Sandy McBain