ft
her handkerchief to her eyes, and hold it there. "But you are right,
mother," said he, quickly. "To bear it well, one need n't laugh at it.
At all events, what answer are we to make him?"

"Finish the letter first."

"Ah, this is all about putting him up--anywhere--in a dressing-room or
a closet. 'At Carlscourt, last year, they had nothing to give me but a
bathroom. They used to quiz me about sleeping in "marble halls," for I
lay in the bath.'"

"He seems a good-tempered creature," said the old lady, who could not
repress a laugh this time.

"The best in the world; and such spirits! I wish you saw him do the
back-somersault over a chair, or the frog's leap across a table. For
all that, mother," said he, with a change of tone, "he's a perfect
gentleman; and though he's very short,--only so high,--he looks a
gentleman, too."

"I am not likely to forget all his kindness to you, Tony," said she,
feelingly. "If we could only receive him suitably, I 'd be happy and
proud to do it; as it is, however, the man, being a gentleman, will put
up all the better with our humble entertainment: so just tell him to
come, Tony; but tell him, also, what he's coming to. His room will be
pretty much like the bathroom, and the company he'll meet afterwards
very unlike what he saw at the fine house."

"He 'll take all in good part, or I 'm much mistaken in him. So here
goes for the answer:--

"'Dear Skeff,--We live in a cottage with five rooms. We have
one maidservant, and we dine at two. If you have courage to
face all this, you'll have the heartiest of welcomes from my
mother and your sincere friend,

"'Tony Butler.

"'The mail will drop you at Coleraine, and I 'll be on the
look-out for you every morning from this forward.'

"Won't that do, mother?" asked he.

"I think you might have done it better; but I suppose you young folk
understand each other best in your own fashion, so let it be."

CHAPTER XX. THE MINISTER'S VISIT

While Tony was absent that morning from home, Mrs. Butler had a visit
from Dr. Stewart; he came over, he said, to see Tony, and ask the news
of what he had done in England. "I hope, ma'am," said he,--and there was
something dry and reserved in his manner,--"I hope, ma'am, your son
has brought you good tidings of his late journey. A big city is a big
temptation, and we dinna want temptations in this world of ours."

"I know it well, doctor," said she, with a sig