t it slumber so.'

MRS. BROWNING.

One morning, as the Ross family were sitting at breakfast, Audrey
noticed that Michael seemed very much absorbed by a letter he was
reading. He laid it down presently, but made no remark, only he seemed a
little grave and absent during the remainder of the meal.

Just as they were rising from table, she heard him ask her father in
rather a low tone if he would come into the study for a moment, as he
wanted a few words with him; and as they went out together he mentioned
the word dogcart--could he have it in time to catch the 11.15 train?

Audrey felt a sudden quickening of curiosity. Michael's manner was so
peculiar that she was sure something must have happened. She wondered
what this sudden summons to town meant. It was a bitterly cold day, and
a light fall of snow had whitened the ground. A three miles' drive in a
dogcart was not a very agreeable proceeding, only Michael seemed so
strangely callous to weather now. Surely her father would insist on his
having a fly from the town? He was always so careful of Michael's
comfort.

Audrey could settle to nothing; it was impossible to practise or answer
notes until she had had a word with Michael. So she took up the paper
and pretended to read it, until the study door opened and she heard her
cousin go up to his room. The next moment Dr. Ross walked in, looking
as though he were very much pleased.

'Mike's a droll fellow,' he said, addressing his wife, who was looking
over the tradesmen's books. 'He has just told me, with a very long face,
that his uncle, Mr. Carlisle, is dead, and that he has left him all his
money; and he is as lugubrious over it as though he had been made
bankrupt.'

Audrey uttered an exclamation, but Mrs. Ross said, in her quiet way:

'Perhaps he is grieved at the loss of his uncle, John. It would hardly
be becoming to rejoice openly at the death of a relative, however rich
he might be.'

'I am afraid many men would if they were in Mike's shoes. Why, they say
Mr. Carlisle was worth six or seven thousand a year--most of it solid
capital, and locked up in safe securities and investments. He was always
a canny Scotsman, and liked to take care of his money. And here is Mike
pretending not to care a jot about it, and looking as though he had the
cares of all the world on his shoulders.'

'I think he shows very good feeling. Michael was never mercenary, and
the loss of his only near re