h my dear mother left to me." Father doubtless wished to have
the matter take a less serious turn, for Rupert's eyes were all shiny
with tears which had not fallen; so after a little pause he said, with
indignation, which I knew was simulated:

"Have you forgotten your mother so soon, Rupert, that you wish to give
away the very last gift which she bestowed on you?" Rupert was sitting,
but he jumped up and stood opposite my father with his fist clenched. He
was quite pale now, and his eyes looked so fierce that I thought he would
do my father an injury. He spoke in a voice which did not seem like his
own, it was so strong and deep.

"Sir!" he roared out. I suppose, if I was a writer, which, thank God, I
am not--I have no need to follow a menial occupation--I would call it
"thundered." "Thundered" is a longer word than "roared," and would, of
course, help to gain the penny which a writer gets for a line. Father
got pale too, and stood quite still. Rupert looked at him steadily for
quite half a minute--it seemed longer at the time--and suddenly smiled
and said, as he sat down again:

"Sorry. But, of course, you don't understand such things." Then he went
on talking before father had time to say a word.

"Let us get back to business. As you do not seem to follow me, let me
explain that it is _because_ I do not forget that I wish to do this. I
remember my dear mother's wish to make Aunt Janet happy, and would like
to do as she did."

"_Aunt_ Janet?" said father, very properly sneering at his ignorance.
"She is not your aunt. Why, even her sister, who was married to your
uncle, was only your aunt by courtesy." I could not help feeling that
Rupert meant to be rude to my father, though his words were quite polite.
If I had been as much bigger than him as he was than me, I should have
flown at him; but he was a very big boy for his age. I am myself rather
thin. Mother says thinness is an "appanage of birth."

"My Aunt Janet, sir, is an aunt by love. Courtesy is a small word to use
in connection with such devotion as she has given to us. But I needn't
trouble you with such things, sir. I take it that my relations on the
side of my own house do not affect you. I am a Sent Leger!" Father
looked quite taken aback. He sat quite still before he spoke.

"Well, Mr. St. Leger, I shall think over the matter for a while, and
shall presently let you know my decision. In the meantime, would you
like something to