"No, not a bit," said the girl spitefully, and one eye flashed at Mrs Max; "nor Fred neither," she continued, bestowing a milder ray with the other. "The infatuation will wear off," said Mrs Max, wringing her hands, but seeming as if wringing her pocket-handkerchief, "and then one of them will come to his senses." "I shall never marry Tom," cried the girl decidedly. "Don't speak so, my child," said Mrs Max. "You know your guardian has so arranged it; and he can withhold your money if you are disobedient." "Yes," cried Violante, "money, money, money--always money. That's why I am kept for the pleasure of those two scapegraces, and mocked at by that saucy hussy of a Jessie. I wish I hadn't a penny." "Hush, hush!" cried Mrs Max, "here is your guardian." As she spoke she hastily wiped her eyes--pretty dry this time--and put away her handkerchief, for voices were heard below. In fact, half an hour before, Max Shingle had been rolling grandly along from the City, looking the full-blown perfection of a thick-lipped, self-inflated, sensual man, when he encountered Hopper, who hooked him at once with his stick. "Hullo, Max Shingle!" he cried: "been doing good, as usual? Here: I'll come home to dinner with you," he continued, taking his arm. Max swore a very ugly oath to himself; but he was obliged to put up with the annoyance--a feeling modified, however, by his curiosity being excited. "I've just come from your brother Dick's," said Hopper, winking to himself. Max was mollified directly, for reasons of his own; for, though over two years had passed, Dick had kept his own counsel so well that not a soul, even in his own family, knew the full secret of his success. Hopper was as ignorant as the rest; but he assumed a knowledge in Max's presence that he did not possess. "Is--is he doing well?" said Max, in an indifferent tone. "Hey?" "I say, is he doing well?" shouted Max. "Wonderfully! Keeps his brougham, and a carriage besides, for his wife and daughter." "Ah!" said Max. "Is he civil to you? No music now, I suppose?" "Only three nights a week," said Hopper, winking to himself. "Fine princely fellow, Dick. Ah! here we are. Very glad--I'm hungry. He wanted me to stay, but I would not." Max opened the front door with his latchkey, and drew back for Hopper to enter which that worthy did, and began to wipe his feat upon the mat, which said in scarlet letters, "Friend, do not swear," etc. "Damn that mat!" exclaimed Hopper loudly, as he caught one toe in the long pile, and nearly fell headlong, while Max gazed at him in horror. "Couldn't help it," said Hopper apologetically. "Didn't swear, did I?" "Indeed, sir, you did." "Hey? What say?" "You did, sir," shouted Max. "Did what?" "Swore--at the mat." "Hey?" said Hopper, who had grown wonderfully deaf since he had been in the hall. "I say you--swore--at--the--mat."