day. I was greatly afraid you would catch cold."

"You took the kindest possible way of preventing it," said Jeffreys. "I
never enjoyed a meal as much as the one Walker brought me yesterday, and
I thank the kind sender."

Raby blushed.

"It was a shame no one else thought of it. But, Mr Jeffreys, you are
thanking me, when it is I who ought to thank you for risking your life
for me."

"That is a new version of the story," said Jeffreys. "It was somebody
else who risked his life for me, and I know you despise me for appearing
so churlish about it."

"I was very sorry indeed for you in the drawing-room last night."

"I deserved no sympathy."

"I fancied you might have gushed a little when you saw how much auntie's
heart and Mrs Scarfe's were set on it. It would not have hurt you."

"I cannot gush, Miss Atherton; but I can value your kindness to me, and
I do."

Raby smiled one of her pleasantest smiles.

"I wish I had half your honesty, Mr Jeffreys. I am always pretending
to be something here which I am not, and I get sick of it. I wish I
were a man."

"Why? Is honesty confined to the male sex?"

"No; I suppose we can be honest too. But if I was a man I could go and
be of some use somewhere; I'm no good to anybody here."

Jeffreys coloured up furiously, and looked as if he would run from the
spot. Then, apparently thinking better of it, he looked down at her and
said--

"Excuse me, you are."

They walked on a little in silence, then Raby said--

"I am so glad, Mr Jeffreys, you managed Percy so well about that
smoking yesterday; and how well he took it!"

"Of course; he's a gentleman and a fine fellow."

"He forgets how much older Mr Scarfe is than he, and he imagines it is
a fine thing to do whatever others do. But I think it is such a pity he
should waste so much time as he does now in the billiard-room and over
the fire. Don't you think it is bad for him?"

"I do. The day on the ice yesterday made a new man of him."

"Do try to coax him out, Mr Jeffreys, you always do him good; and you
may be able to pull him up now before he becomes an idler."

"I promise you I will do what I can."

"He ought to be my brother, and not my cousin," said Raby, "I feel so
jealous on his account."

"He is fortunate--may I say so?--in his cousin. Here is Mr Rimbolt."

Mr Rimbolt had papers in his hand, and looked rather anxious.

Raby, with a daughter's instinct, rushed to him.

"Uncle, have you