"Pray spare your pity, for some more deserving individual," answered Everard laughing, "I think myself the most fortunate of mortals." "Don't come to me with your nonsense, you are very silly, and have behaved in a most dishonorable manner towards your family." "Will you be kind enough to state in what way," replied Everard colouring, "I confess I can't see it." "Why, in offering to that governess girl." "You are severe." "Oh I haven't patience with you; my sympathy is all with poor Grace, who feels quite disgraced by it." "She cannot think so, seriously, or if she does, she ought to be ashamed. "Hoighty, toighty, how we are coming the parson to-night." "Pshaw," exclaimed Everard impatiently. "I think she is justly angry and aggrieved. Of course in receiving so young and pretty a girl, as governess for your sisters, (for I allow that she is pretty.) "Oh you do," said Everard sarcastically. "Your mother" continued Lady Ashton "relied upon your honorable feelings, and good sense, but you have abused her confidence in a most cruel manner." The swelling veins, and heavy breathing showed how annoyed he was, and he answered warmly, "I deny having done anything wrong or dishonorable, I presume that I have a perfect right to choose for myself." "To a certain extent I grant, but you owe something to the feelings of your family." "They have no cause of complaint, Isabel is quite their equal if not superior." "In your estimation," said Lady Ashton contemptuously. "I don't care to discuss the subject" returned Everard haughtily. "Reverse the matter, how would you like it, if Grace was going to marry a tutor." "If he was a worthy person, and Grace was satisfied, I certainly should not object." "I doubt it," cried Lady Ashton angrily. Then she commenced aspersing Isabel in every way, and Everard hotly defended her. "Nasty, artful, designing girl, you will live to repent your folly yet," she said. Then Everard got in a terrible passion newly ordained though he was. But Lady Ashton was a woman, and Everard Arlington never forgot when he was in the presence of ladies, so though they most decidedly quarrelled, Everard saying some pretty severe things, he managed to keep the cooler of the two, Lady Ashton being as spiteful as only Lady Ashton could be. So instead of conciliating Grace he had only made matters worse; as he supposed; but Lady Ashton really loved her god-son, and in her heart admired him for his spirit. Everard's anger once roused was not easily appeased, so that after he left Ashton Park, he took a ten mile walk in the moonlight before he was sufficiently calm to venture home. "What is the matter" asked his mother when he did. "I have been in a tremendous passion, and am not quite cooled down yet" he answered, "good night."