nd finding there
only his two younger brothers. "No other than Miss Vivian."

"Ah! then," broke in Charlie, "you saw what Jenkins calls the
perfect picture of a woman."

"She is very handsome," soberly returned Julius. "Rose is quite
delighted with her. Do you know anything of her?"

"Jenny Bowater was very fond of poor Emily," rejoined the mother.
"I believe that she had a very good governess, but I wish she were
in better hands now."

"I cannot think why there should be a universal prejudice for the
sake of one early offence!" exclaimed Frank.

"Oh, indeed!" said Julius, amazed at such a tone to his mother.

"I only meant--mother, I beg your pardon--but you are only going by
hearsay," answered Frank, in some confusion.

"Then you have not seen her?" said Julius.

"I! I'm the last person she is likely to seek, if you mean
Camilla."

"She inquired a great deal after you, mother," interposed Frank,
"and said she longed to call, only she did not know if you could see
her. I do hope you will, when she calls on Cecil. I am sure you
would think differently. Promise me, mother!"

"If she asks for me, I will, my boy," said Mrs. Poynsett, "but let
me look! You aren't dressed for dinner! What will Mistress Cecil
say to you! Ah! it is time you had ladies about the house again."

The two youths retreated; and Julius remained, looking anxiously and
expressively at his mother.

"I am afraid so," she said; "but I had almost rather he were
honestly smitten with the young one than that he believed in
Camilla."

"I should think no one could long do that," said Julius.

"I don't know. He met them when he was nursing that poor young
Scotsman at Rockpier, and got fascinated. He has never been quite
the same since that time!" said the mother anxiously. "I don't
blame him, poor fellow!" she added eagerly, "or mean that he has
been a bit less satisfactory--oh no! Indeed, it may be my fault for
expressing my objection too' plainly; he has always been reserved
with me since, and I never lost the confidence of one of my boys
before!"

That Julius knew full well, for he--as the next eldest at home--had
been the recipient of all his mother's perplexities at the time of
Raymond's courtship. Mrs. Poynsett had not been a woman of intimate
female friends. Her sons had served the purpose, and this was
perhaps one great element in her almost unbounded influence with
them. Julius was deeply concerned to see her eyes