yet he would receive an education as good as any
one's. "Probably better," said Elinor: "for Mr. Sage will have few
pupils like him, and therefore will give him the more attention."

"That means," said John, "that the boy will not be among his equals,
which is of all things I know the worst for a boy."

"We are not aristocrats, as you are, John. They will be more than his
equal in one way, because many of them will be bigger and stronger than
he, and that is what counts most among boys. Besides, we have no
pretensions."

"My dear Elinor," said John Tatham (who was by this time an exceedingly
successful lawyer, member for his native borough, and within sight of a
Solicitor-Generalship), "your modesty is a little out of character,
don't you think? There can be no two opinions about what the boy is: an
aristocrat--if you choose to use that word, every inch of him--a little
gentleman, down to his fingers' ends."

"Oh, thank you, John," cried Pippo's inconsistent mother; "that is the
thing of all others that we hoped you would say."

"And yet you are going to send him among the farmers' sons. Fine
fellows, I grant you, but not of his kind. Have you heard," he said,
more gravely, "that Reginald Compton died last year?"

"We saw it in the papers," said Mrs. Dennistoun. Elinor said nothing,
but turned her head away.

"And neither of the others are married, or likely to marry; one of them
is very much broken down----"

"Oh, John, John, for God's sake don't say anything more!"

"I must, Elinor. There is but one good life, and that in a dangerous
climate, and with all the risks of possible fighting, between the boy
and----"

"Don't, don't, John!"

"And he does not know who he is. He is ignorant of everything, even the
fact, the great fact, which you have no right to keep from him----"

"John," she cried, starting to her feet, "the boy is mine: I have a
right to deal with him as I think best. I will not hear a word you have
to say."

"It is vain to say anything," said Mrs. Dennistoun; "she will not hear a
word."

"That is all very well, so far as she is concerned," said John, "but I
have a part of my own to play. You give me the name of adviser and so
forth--a man cannot be your adviser if his mouth is closed before he
speaks. I have a right to speak, being summoned for that purpose. I tell
you, Elinor, that you have no right to conceal from the boy who he is,
and that his father is alive."

She gave a cry as i