age well," said Cecil. "Had I not better go up now?
Will you show me the way, Raymond?"

The mother and her two younger sons remained.

"Haven't I brought you home a splendid article?" was Frank's
exclamation. "Julius has got the best of it."

"I back my Cape Gooseberry," returned Charles. "She has eyes and
hair and skin that my Lady can't match, and is a fine figure of a
woman besides."

"Much you know of Rosamond's eyes!"

"Or you either, boxed up in the van."

"Any way, they have made roast meat of his Reverence's heart! The
other two take it much more easily."

"She's a mere chicken," said Charlie. "Who would have thought of
Raymond being caught by a callow nestling?"

"And so uncommonly cool," added Frank.

"It would take much to transform Raymond," interposed the mother.
"Now, boys, away with you; I must have a little quiet, to repair
myself for company after dinner."

Charlie settled her cushions with womanly skill, and followed his
brother. "Well, Frank, which is the White Cat? Ah, I thought so--
she's yet to come."

"Not one is fit to hold a candle to _her_. You saw that as plain as
I did, Charlie; Eleonora beats them all."

"Ah, you're not the youngest brother, remember. It was he who
brought her home at last. Come, you need not knock me down; I shall
never see any one to surpass the mother, and I'll have no one till I
do."

CHAPTER II
The Population of Compton Poynsett

He wanted a wife his braw hoose to keep,
But favour wi' wooin' was fashous to seek.--Laird o' Cockpen

In the bright lamplight of the dining-table, the new population
first fully beheld one another, and understood one another's looks.

There was much family resemblance between the five brothers. All
were well-grown well-made men, strong and agile, the countenance
pleasing, rather square of mould, eyebrows straight and thick, nose
well cut and short, chin firm and resolute-looking, and the
complexion very dark in Raymond, Frank, and the absent Miles.
Frank's eyes were soft, brown, rather pensive, and absent in
expression; but Raymond's were much deeper and darker, and had a
steadfast gravity, that made him be viewed as formidable, especially
as he had lost all the youthful glow of colouring that mantled in
his brother's olive cheek; and he had a short, thick, curly brown
beard, while Frank had only attained to a black moustache, that
might almost have been drawn on his lip with charcoal.

Charlie was