"You had better mind what you are about," exclaimed Valentine, shaking with laughter. "This sort of thing may be carried a little too far," and as he spoke a little piece of cotton wool flew out of his ear, and performing a short arc, dropped on to the floor. He picked it up hastily and restored it, but his brother who was passing before us paused as if struck by the sight, and turning towards him, murmured in a melancholy tone,-" And certain stars shot madly from their spheres, to hear the sea-maid's music."

CHAPTER V.

"Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore.'"-Edgar Poe.

THAT night I asked Mrs. Brand what Brand had said in his letter.

She replied, that he had said master's shirts wanted new wristbands; and there had been a hole burnt in one of the best tablecloths; that the captain of the yacht being ashore one day, Mr. Brandon had persuaded master to let him steer, and had as nigh as possible run down a lighter; that the cook had lost two basins overboard; and that Mr. Graham was all right.

The last piece of information was what I wanted, and I slept well after it.

At breakfast-time the next day, I observed that Mr. Brandon seemed in excellent spirits; and when I caught his eye, he did not look at all like a man who had any disagreeable news to communicate. He preserved his air of open

cheerfulness; and when Valentine and I came up into the drawing-room to do our Greek, we found him standing on the rug arguing with Liz, declaring that she had nothing to do, and was very much to be pitied in consequence. Liz said she had a great deal to do, and declined to be pitied.

He then began to mourn and lament over his school. "Why did she never go and

see it?"

66

Oh, you go yourself every day."

"But I cannot superintend the needlework; besides, you know that when I went out I entreated you girls to look in now and then." "Dorothea has been there several times," answered Liz.

"Yes," I said; "but not to teach.

We

went, at first, to take the children's portraits." "Not in school hours, I hope."

Oh, no; on their half holiday."

"And then she made friends with the mistress," said Valentine; "and taught that ugly girl, Mercy Porter, to do double-knitting. Do you know what that is, Giles?"

"No.

Did you accompany Miss Graham

on these visits?"

"You will be thankful to hear that I did,

Giles. I hope I know my duty. There is but a step, you know, between us; so no wonder I tread closely on your heels.'

Liz, as he said this, was leaving the room; and when she shut the door, St. George answered with unexpected heat and asperity,

"I've often told you that I hate and detest that expression, 'step brother.' I don't acknowledge any such relationship."

"Well, Giles," said Valentine, humbly, "I think we both talk now and then of our step-sisters."

"That's a different thing," he exclaimed, in the face of facts. "Your father is nothing to them, but he is to me; and if I ever heard you call me seriously your step-brother

"As if I should think of such a thing!" cried Valentine, firing up with sudden indignation. "Now, did you ever hear me do such a thing seriously in your life—did you?”

"You young scapegrace," answered Mr. Brandon, with a short laugh, but still looking heated; "if I did regard you in that light, I would

He emphasised his words by giving Valentine a slap on the head with a thin loose pamphlet that he was holding, and by ap

proaching his clenched `fist very closely to that young gentleman's nose. It was a little awk-· ward for me, for I am sure he had not quite made up his mind whether he was in joke or

earnest.

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"You would what?" cried Valentine, seizing it. I say this is assault and battery, Giles, sir! what?"

Let me alone. You would

By this time, restored to good temper, they were half wrestling together; but Mr. Brandon soon got free. The Oubit received several other noisy but harmless blows with the pamphlet, and was pushed down again on the sofa, still vociferating,

"You would what, Giles? You would what?"

"Why, I would treat you very differently from what I mean to do," he replied.

And picking up his pamphlet and charging me to be strict, he presently departed; but in two minutes he came back again, and said to Valentine,

"You are going to have a visit from the magistrate this afternoon, a domiciliary visit; and you had better clear out a little of your rubbish-those two miserable mallards, with