His mother met him in the passage. "Miser Farebrother wishes to see you, Jeremiah. You can join Miss Phoebe afterward." "All right," said Jeremiah; "I will. Look here, mother. Is that Cornwall fellow sticking up to Phoebe?" "That is for you to find out, Jeremiah. If you are my son you are not to be easily beaten." "Easily beaten!" he echoed, with malignant emphasis. "When my back's up, I generally let people know it. Did you notice how they behaved to me at the tea-table?" "You paid them out for it, Jeremiah," said Mrs. Pamflett, exultingly. "I am proud of you." "You shall have more reason by-and-by. Paid them out for it! Why, they didn't have a word to say for themselves! I just looked at them, and shut them up! As for Phoebe, let her look out; that's all I say--let her look out! Did you ever see a cat play with a mouse?" "Often, Jeremiah." "Well, let her look out for herself. That's all I've got to say." CHAPTER II. ARCADES AMBO. Jeremiah entered Miser Farebrother's room, holding in his hand the bouquet of flowers he had brought for Phoebe. He had debated within himself whether he should allow the miser to see them or no, and he had decided in the affirmative. "Mother commenced it," he thought, "and I'll go on with it. Strike while the iron's hot, Jeremiah." "You sent for me," said he, laying the bouquet on the table in full view of Miser Farebrother. "Are those the flowers the gentleman lawyer gave my daughter?" asked Miser Farebrother. "No," replied Jeremiah; "I didn't know he brought her any. I bought these in Covent Garden to present to Miss Phoebe." "You are growing extravagant," said the miser; "and you are becoming quite a gay young character: first escorting my daughter home from the village, and now presenting her with expensive flowers. It rains flowers in Parksides to-day. I was never guilty of such extravagance--never." "This is the first time _I_ have ever done such a thing," said Jeremiah, apologetically; "but seeing it was Miss Phoebe's birthday, I thought the money wouldn't be exactly thrown away. Look here--that lawyer chap; he's up to no good." "You don't like lawyers?" "No more than you do; though, mind you, if I was married and had a son, I'd bring him up as one. Then he'd know exactly how far to go, and I should get my legal business done for nothing." "Oh! oh!" said Miser Farebrother, with a quiet chuckle. "If you were married and had a son! That's looking ahead, Jeremiah." "It's a good plan; it keeps one prepared. You've no objection to my giving Miss Phoebe these flowers, I suppose?"