n me."

"But she has on us," Bertie replied promptly. "She's our cousin; her
papa was our Uncle Frank, and we must take care of her."

Mr. Gregory frowned and looked thoughtful, but Aunt Amy had stepped
forward, and taken Agnes into her arms. "We'll take care of her," she
said, with a loving look at Bertie, who had spoken so bravely for his
little cousin, while Eddie had entirely forgotten her. "Don't be afraid,
Bertie; while your Uncle Harry and I have a home Agnes shall share it."

"Thank you, aunt; and I hope Uncle Gregory will let me come and see you
often. It is so nice to think that we shall all be in London together;"
and then Bertie smothered a sigh as he remembered how he disliked cities
and loved the country, how he would miss the dear delights of
Riversdale, and how he dreaded the duties of an office. But he had
plenty of courage, and he resolved not to begin by being unhappy or
discontented; "besides, it mayn't be so bad," he said to himself; "and
Dr. Mayson declares it's worth a thousand a year to be able to look at
the bright side of everything."

[Illustration: "MR. GREGORY PLACED TWO SOVEREIGNS IN BERTIE'S HAND" (_p.
98_).]

Agnes was weeping silently with joy: no other arrangement could have
given her half as much pleasure as going back with her Aunt Amy and
Uncle Clair; she could surely pick up some crumbs of instruction in the
studio, and then she would always be at hand to help Eddie, and little
Agnes did not wish for any greater happiness than that. But Eddie did
not seem altogether so well pleased by the arrangement. He did not like
a rival, either in affection or talent, and he knew that both his Aunt
and Uncle Clair loved Agnes, and also that she was a great deal cleverer
with her pencil than himself, though she was very shy and nervous, and
distrusted her own powers. However, the arrangement was the only one
that seemed possible, and the very next day they all returned to London,
Agnes and Eddie going in a four-wheeler with their aunt and uncle to
Fitzroy Square, Bertie accompanying his Uncle Gregory to a splendid
house in Kensington Gardens, where he was rather coldly received by his
aunt and cousins, and informed that, for a time at least, it was to be
his home.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER V.--BERTIE BEGINS LIFE.

It was a long time before Eddie and Bertie Rivers could realise that
Riversdale was no longer their home--that they were quite poor lads,
dependent on the kindness of their