"And I should like you to be a little more careful over your spelling." "Oh, Mullins, M.A., says that'll all come right, auntie, when we've quite done with our classics." "I hope so, my darling, and then you shall be my private secretary. I did hope at one time that I should win over your uncle to a love for my pursuits. But alas!" "Don't seem in uncle's way much, auntie, but he means right, uncle does. You wait till he's in the House--he'll make some of 'em sit up." "I hope not, my dear child. I rather trust to his brother members leading him into a better way." "Ah, I don't think you ought to expect that, auntie," said the "dear boy," using his serviette to remove the high-water mark of coffee from an incipient moustache. "They go in for all-night sittings, you know." "Yes, my dear, but only on emergencies, and for their country's good." "Walker!" said the "dear boy," softly. "I used to think at one time that I should be able to wean him from his bad habit of lying in bed so late. If he would only follow your example of getting up early enough for a long walk or ride before breakfast!" "Nicest part of the day, auntie." "Yes, my dear." Lady Lisle sighed, and went on eating crumblets of dry toast and sipping her tea, as she opened and examined a pile of letters, many of which had a very charitable-institution-like look about them; and Sydney Smithers, her nephew, toiled pleasantly on at taking in stores, till his aunt sighed, glanced at the door, then at the clock, and then at her nephew. "Have you finished, Syd, my dear?" "Yes, auntie, quite." "Ha!" sighed the lady, gathering up her letters, the boy springing up to assist her in carrying them to the side-table in the embayed window of the handsome room. "You will, I know, take advantage of your being with us, my dear, to avoid those of your poor dear uncle's habits which your own good sense will teach you are not right." "Oh, of course, auntie dear." "And to follow those which are estimable." "To be sure, auntie dear." "For your uncle is at heart a noble and generous gentleman." "Regular brick in some things, auntie," said the "dear boy," and Lady Lisle winced. "Try not to make use of more of those scholastic words, Syd dear, than you can help." "All right, auntie, I won't; but brick is right enough. Mullins, M.A., says it's so suggestive of solidity and square firmness." "Yes, my dear, of course, and I wish you to be firm; but, above all, be a gentleman, and--er--careful in your selection of your friends." "Oh, yes, auntie; I am." "You see, my dear, it is our misfortune that the Denes is situated here." "But, auntie, it's a jolly place." "Yes, my dear; but it was quite a wreck from neglect till your uncle married me, and he--er--we restored the place--his ancestral home--to what it is." "You did it up beautifully, auntie." "Well, I hope I did, my dear child, but I have often regretted the money that was spent over a place situated as it is."