adyship grew worse, but under
the ministrations of Helen Grayson, suddenly becoming better, drank a
glass of water, and wiped her eyes.

"I am so weak," she said unnecessarily, as she rose from the
dessert-table and left the room with Helen Grayson, who had hard work
once more to keep her countenance, as she encountered her father's eye.

"Spoils him, Grayson," said Sir James, as they settled down to their
port. "Noble boy, though, wonderful intellect. I shall make him a
statesman."

"Hah!" ejaculated the firm-looking grey-haired doctor, who had taken
high honours at his college, practised medicine for some years, and
since the death of his wife lived the calm life of a student in the old
Manor House of Coleby.

"Now, you couldn't make a statesman of some boys whom you took out of
the gutter."

"Oh yes, I could," said the doctor. "Oh yes, sir."

"Ah, well; we will not argue," said Sir James good-humouredly.

"No," said the doctor, "we will not argue."

But they did argue all the same, till they had had their coffee, when
they argued again, and then joined the ladies in the drawing-room, where
Master Edgar was eating cake, and dropping currants and crumbs between
the leaves of a valuable illustrated book, which he turned over with
fingers in a terrible state of stick,--the consequence being that he
added illustrations--prints of his fingers in brown.

"Have you settled your debate, Dr Grayson!" said Lady Danby, smiling.

"No, madam; I shall have to prove my theory to your husband, and it will
take time."

"My dear James, what is the matter!" said her ladyship as a howl arose.

"Pa says I'm to go to bed, ma, and it's only ten; and you promised me I
might sit up as long as I liked."

"How can you make such foolish promises, Maria?" said Sir James
petulantly. "There, hold your tongue, sir, and you may stay another
half-hour."

"But ma said I might stop up as long as I liked," howled Master Edgar.

"Then for goodness' sake stop up all night, sir," said Sir James
impatiently; and Master Edgar stayed till the visitors had gone.

"Enjoyed your evening, my dear?" said the doctor.

"Ye-es, papa," said his daughter; "I--"

"Might have enjoyed it more. Really, Helen, it is absurd. That man
opposed my theory tooth and nail, and all the time he kept on proving it
by indulging that boy. I say you can make what you like of a boy. Now
what's he making of that boy?"

"Sir James said he should make him a st