Colonel Ashley was silenced and repelled for a little while by this churlishness on the part of his interlocutor; but, speedily recollecting that it was his guest who had sought this interview, he inquired with some reserve of manner— “Can I be so happy as to serve you in any way this morning, Mr. Sutherland?” “Who recommended that young man whom you have engaged as a tutor?” asked Clement Sutherland, curtly. Now, Colonel Ashley might well have been provoked by the abruptness of this question to make some unpleasant answer, but Colonel Ashley was a gentleman and a host. He replied with the utmost courtesy, yet in a manner that administered the keenest and most delicate rebuke. Looking at his guest, he said, slowly and with meaning, “His _name_ recommended him, Mr. Sutherland.” “That is just what I feared. That is the one thing, unhappily, of which we cannot deprive him, and makes us, in some degree, responsible for him. Pray, sir, did you know anything of this young man’s past history?” “Nothing.” “You fancied him a relative of ours?” “Certainly.” “Now, then, will you be so kind as to give me your attention for a few minutes?” Colonel Ashley settled himself in an attitude of fixed interest, and Clement Sutherland commenced a narration of some considerable length, which, at its close, left Mark Sutherland with the character of a graceless son, a faithless lover, an unprincipled man, and a mad reformer. “Sir,” said he, in conclusion, “you should not give him house-room for an hour! He will pervert your children, steal the heart of your niece, sow fatal dissension between your son and his wife, and incite your servants to revolt!” Colonel Ashley went through all the degrees of incredulity, doubt, perplexity, and alarm, exclaiming, “I should never have believed it of him! He does not look at all like an incendiary!” “Sir, an incendiary does not parade his combustible matter before your eyes, and _look_ like he was going to fire your house!” “He does not seem to me to be at all dangerous.” “Sir, dangerous people never _seem_ dangerous.” “I rather liked the young gentleman, I confess,” said Colonel Ashley, slowly and hesitatingly. “Sir, would you like your children to imbibe revolutionary principles? Would you like your servants incited to revolt? Would you like an estrangement and separation brought about between your son and daughter-in-law? Would you like your niece to elope with a fanatic?”