to my father, though his words were quite polite. If I had been as much bigger than him as he was than me, I should have flown at him; but he was a very big boy for his age.  I am myself rather thin.  Mother says thinness is an "appanage of birth."

"My Aunt Janet, sir, is an aunt by love.  Courtesy is a small word to use in connection with such devotion as she has given to us.  But I needn't trouble you with such things, sir.  I take it that my relations on the side of my own house do not affect you.  I am a Sent Leger!"  Father looked quite taken aback.  He sat quite still before he spoke.

"Well, Mr. St. Leger, I shall think over the matter for a while, and shall presently let you know my decision.  In the meantime, would you like something to eat?  I take it that as you must have started very early, you have not had any breakfast?"  Rupert smiled quite genially: "That is true, sir.  I haven't broken bread since dinner last night, and I am ravenously hungry."  Father rang the bell, and told the footman who answered it to send the housekeeper.  When she came, father said to her: "Mrs. Martindale, take this boy to your room and give him some breakfast."  Rupert stood very still for some seconds.  His face had got red again after his paleness.  Then he bowed to my father, and followed Mrs. Martindale, who had moved to the door.

Nearly an hour afterwards my father sent a servant to tell him to come to the study.  My mother was there, too, and I had gone back with her.  The man came back and said: "Mrs. Martindale, sir, wishes to know, with her respectful service, if she may have a word with you."  Before father could reply mother told him to bring her.  The housekeeper could not have been far off--that kind are generally near a keyhole--for she came at once.  When she came in, she stood at the door curtseying and looking pale.  Father said: "Well?"

"I thought, sir and ma'am, that I had better come and tell you about Master Sent Leger.  I would have come at once, but I feared to disturb you."

"Well?"  Father had a stern way with servants.  When I'm head of the family I'll tread them under my feet.  That's the way to get real devotion from servants!

"If you please, sir, I took the young gentleman into my room and ordered a nice breakfast for him, for I could see he was half famished--a growing boy like him, and so tall!  Presently it came along.  It was a good breakfast, too!  The very smell of it made even me hungry.  There were eggs and frizzled ham, and grilled kidneys, 

 Prev. P 5/276 next