lative would make him dull for a time.'

'My dear Emmie, that is very pretty sentiment; but, unfortunately, it
does not hold good in this case. Mike has never seen his uncle since he
was a lad of eighteen--that is about seventeen years ago--and he has
often owned to me that Mr. Carlisle was very close in his money
dealings. "It is a pity there is no sympathy between us," he said once.
"Uncle Andrew does not seem to have a thought beyond his money-grubbing.
He is a decent sort of old fellow, I believe, and I daresay he will end
by marrying some pretty girl or other, and then he will be properly
miserable all the rest of his life." That does not sound much like an
affectionate nephew.'

'Oh, he never cared for him!' interposed Audrey; 'Michael and I have
often talked about him. It seems so strange that he should leave him his
money, when he took so little notice of him all these years.'

'Well, he was not a demonstrative man,' returned her father; 'but in his
way he seemed both fond and proud of Mike. I remember when he got the
Victoria Cross, and was lying between life and death, poor lad! that Mr.
Carlisle wrote very kindly and enclosed a cheque for two hundred pounds.
I had to answer the letter for him, and I remember when he got better,
and first came down here, that I recommended him to keep up a friendly
intercourse with his uncle, though I do not believe he took my advice.
Mike was always such a lazy beggar!'

'And he has to go up to town to see his lawyer, I suppose?'

'Yes, and he thinks he may be away a week or two; but, there, I must not
stand here talking. I have told Reynolds to order a fly from the town;
but he need not start for three-quarters of an hour.'

Audrey waited impatiently for another twenty minutes before Michael made
his appearance. He looked very cold, and at once proceeded to wheel an
easy-chair in front of the fire.

'I may as well get warm,' he observed. 'I expect we shall have a regular
snowstorm before night. Look at that leaden sky! Well, what now?'

For Audrey was kneeling on the rug, and she was looking at him with her
brightest and most bewitching smile.

'Michael, I am so glad, so very, very glad. I think I am as pleased as
though the fortune were mine.'

'Do you think that is a decent remark to make to a fellow who has just
lost his uncle? Really, Audrey, you may well look ashamed of yourself; I
quite blush for you. "Avarice, thy name is woman!"'

'Now, Michael, don't be