apa has a way--don't you know, Margaret,
how one can tell in a moment if it is company talk."

"What was the conversation about?" said Margaret.

"They talked over some of their fellow-students," said Flora.

"Yes," said Ethel; "and then when papa told him that beautiful history
of Dr. Spencer going to take care of those poor emigrants in the fever,
what do you think he said? 'Yes, Spencer was always doing extravagant
things.' Fancy that to papa, who can hardly speak of it without having
to wipe his spectacles, and who so longs to hear of Dr. Spencer."

"And what did he say?"

"Nothing; so Flora and Sir Matthew got to pictures and all that sort of
thing, and it was all company talk after that."

"Most entertaining in its kind," said Flora: "but--oh, Norman!" as he
entered--"why, they are not out of the dining-room yet!"

"No; they are talking of some new invention, and most likely will not
come for an hour."

"Are you going to bed?"

"Papa followed me out of the dining-room to tell me to do so after tea."

"Then sit down there, and I'll go and make some, and let it come up
with Margaret's. Come, Ethel. Good-night, Norman. Is your head aching
to-night?"

"Not much, now I have got out of the dining-room."

"It would have been wiser not to have gone in," said Flora, leaving the
room.

"It was not the dinner, but the man," said Norman. "It is
incomprehensible to me how my father could take to him. I'd as soon have
Harvey Anderson for a friend!"

"You are like me," said Ethel, "in being glad he is not our uncle."

"He presume to think of falling in love with Aunt Flora!" cried Norman
indignantly.

"Why, what is the matter with him?" asked Margaret. "I can't find much
ground for Ethel's dislike, and Flora is pleased."

"She did not hear the worst, nor you either, Ethel," said Norman. "I
could not stand the cold hard way he spoke of hospital patients. I am
sure he thinks poor people nothing but a study, and rich ones nothing
but a profit. And his half sneers! But what I hated most was his way
of avoiding discussions. When he saw he had said what would not go down
with papa, he did not honestly stand up to the point, and argue it out,
but seemed to have no mind of his own, and to be only talking to please
papa--but not knowing how to do it. He understand my father indeed!"

Norman's indignation had quite revived him, and Margaret was much
entertained with the conflicting opinions. The next was Richard's, w