things. My father, as Head of the House and his own senior by eighteen years, tried often to admonish him; but his perversity of spirit and his truculence were such that he had to desist. Indeed, I have heard my father say that he sometimes threatened his life. A desperate character he was, and almost devoid of reverence. No one, not even my father, had any influence--good influence, of course, I mean--over him, except his mother, who was of my family; and also a woman who lived with her--a sort of governess--aunt, he called her. The way of it was this: Captain St. Leger had a younger brother, who made an improvident marriage with a Scotch girl when they were both very young. They had nothing to live on except what the reckless Lancer gave them, for he had next to nothing himself, and she was "bare"--which is, I understand, the indelicate Scottish way of expressing lack of fortune. She was, however, I understand, of an old and somewhat good family, though broken in fortune--to use an expression which, however, could hardly be used precisely in regard to a family or a person who never had fortune to be broken in! It was so far well that the MacKelpies--that was the maiden name of...Have you forgotten your mother so soon, Rupert, that you wish to give away the very last gift which she bestowed on you?"  Rupert was sitting, but he jumped up and stood opposite my father with his fist clenched.  He was quite pale now, and his eyes looked so fierce that I thought he would do my father an injury.  He spoke in a voice which did not seem like his own, it was so strong and deep.

"Sir!" he roared out.  I suppose, if I was a writer, which, thank God, I am not--I have no need to follow a menial occupation--I would call it "thundered."  "Thundered" is a longer word than "roared," and would, of course, help to gain the penny which a writer gets for a line.  Father got pale too, and stood quite still.  Rupert looked at him steadily for quite half a minute--it seemed longer at the time--and suddenly smiled and said, as he sat down again: "Sorry.  But, of course, you don't understand such things."  Then he went on talking before father had time to say a word.

"Let us get back to business.  As you do not seem to follow me, let me explain that it is _because_ I do not forget that I wish to do this.  I remember my dear mother's wish to make Aunt Janet happy, and would like to do as she did."

"_Aunt_ Janet?" said father, very properly sneering at his ignorance. "She is not your aunt.  Why, even her sister, who was married to your uncle, was only your aunt by courtesy."  I could not help feeling that Rupert meant to be rude 

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