“Just so, uncle,” Frank put in; “you see it has all been a mistake, and I am very glad that Alice has overheard us, because she has been able to assure you that she agrees with me.” Captain Bradshaw was silent for a moment, and then said softly to Alice as he kissed her cheek;— “You are a darling, Alice; as for you, sir,” he said, turning fiercely upon Frank, “my opinion of you, sir, is, that you are a young fool. Yes, sir, damme, a thorough young fool,” and with this explosion of wrath, Captain Bradshaw strode out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Frank gave a long whistle. “Upon my word, Alice, this is too bad; Uncle Harry is turning a complete tyrant in his old age. The idea of getting into a passion because you and I, who have known each other for the last ten years, are not going to fall in love with each other all at once to please him. It is too absurd, upon my word.” “Very absurd, Frank,” Alice said, quietly; “and now I think you had better go, and I will go down and pacify uncle.” Frank took up his hat, but paused as he went towards the door, and said,— “I hope I did not say anything rude about you, Alice? You know how much I like you as a sister; but I was obliged to protest against his making us man and wife, when I know that neither of us had such an idea in our heads. You are not vexed, Alice?” “Not vexed at all, Frank,” she said, quietly; “now, please go.” Frank went downstairs, and out into the chilly evening air, with a strong feeling of discontent at things in general. The whole thing was, he assured himself, too ridiculous; still, somehow or other, he did not feel as pleased as he had expected now that the affair was settled. By the time he reached the Temple, however, he had recovered his usual good temper; and going straight up into Prescott’s room, he sat down and gave his friend an exact account of what had passed. Prescott listened with great attention. When Frank came to the part where Alice appeared upon the scene, Prescott almost held his breath to catch every word, and murmured to himself,— “Dear Alice; dear, brave girl.” When Frank had done, he said,— “Now, Prescott, just give me your opinion of it all; it is too bad, is it not?” “Do you want my honest opinion, Frank?” “Of course I do, Prescott.” “Very well, Frank; then I will give it you. I agree entirely with your uncle. You are a fool, and a thorough fool.” It would have been a very dangerous proceeding for anyone else than Prescott to have expressed this opinion of Frank to his face. As it was, Frank looked for a moment as if inclined to be exceedingly angry, but glancing at Prescott’s thoughtful face as he looked into the fire, his brow cleared again, and he said,—