e possessed.

"Yes," he said on another occasion, "she is unhappy; but do not ask her
any questions about it."

"Who,--I? Oh dear, no! I should not think of taking such a liberty."

"It would be as a kindness, not as a liberty. But still, do not speak to
her about it. There are sorrows which must be hidden, which it is better
to endeavour to bury by never speaking of them, by not thinking of them,
if that were possible."

"Is it as bad as that?" the lad asked.

"It is bad enough sometimes. But never mind. You remember that Roman
wisdom,--'Dabit Deus his quoque finem.' And I think that all things are
bearable if a man will only make up his mind to bear them. Do not tell
any one that I have complained."

"Who,--I? Oh, never!"

"Not that I have said anything which all the world might not know; but
that it is unmanly to complain. Indeed I do not complain, only I wish
that things were lighter to her." Then he went off to other matters; but
his heart was yearning to tell everything to this young lad.

Before the end of the week had arrived, there came a letter to him which
he had not at all expected, and a letter also to the Doctor,--both from
Lord Bracy. The letter to Mr. Peacocke was as follows:--

"MY DEAR SIR,--I have been much gratified by what I have heard both from
Dr. Wortle and my son as to his progress. He will have to come home in
July, when the Doctor's school is broken up, and, as you are probably
aware, will go up to Oxford in October. I think it would be very
expedient that he should not altogether lose the holidays, and I am aware
how much more he would do with adequate assistance than without it. The
meaning of all this is, that I and Lady Bracy will feel very much obliged
if you and Mrs. Peacocke will come and spend your holidays with us at
Carstairs. I have written to Dr. Wortle on the subject, partly to tell
him of my proposal, because he has been so kind to my son, and partly to
ask him to fix the amount of remuneration, should you be so kind as to
accede to my request.

"His mother has heard on more than one occasion from her son how very
good-natured you have been to him.--Yours faithfully,

"BRACY."

It was, of course, quite out of the question. Mr. Peacocke, as soon as he
had read the letter, felt that it was so. Had things been smooth and easy
with him, nothing would have delighted him more. His liking for the lad
was most sincere, and it would have been a real ple