In the afternoon Mrs. Hope informed Ernest of the intended move, which circumstances had led her to make earlier than she had intended. “I propose remaining in London till after Christmas,” she said; “of course you and your brother will accompany us.” “And Mr. Ewart?” “There is no room in our town house for him,” replied the lady, who, like her husband, had little love for one, the unworldliness of whose character seemed a silent reproach upon her own. “It would surely be a great pity that I should leave my studies,” said Ernest; “pray remember how much time I have lost already.” “Oh, I’ve quite decided on your coming. To acquire a fashionable air, and the good breeding of the _haut-ton_, is quite as indispensable as any book-learning.” The truth was that the lady had no idea of losing an opportunity of displaying to her acquaintance her nephew, the young peer. On the following evening Charles came to his brother, who was engaged in the dry study of a Latin grammar, to announce to him the arrival of Jack and Ben, who had just been landed at the gardener’s cottage. “I must go and see them at once,” said Ernest, rising. “’Tis late and cold; I think that you might wait till to-morrow.” “Oh no; they are strangers here, poor boys, they have none but me to bid them welcome.” “Then I’ll go with you to see the meeting,” said Charles, taking down his cap from its peg. There was something of awkwardness, a little mixed with fear, in the manner of Ben, as the young nobleman kindly held out his hand to him; but Jack had lost none of his own reckless, impudent air, and strangely did his voice remind Ernest of former days as he called out, as if still in his cottage on the common, “I say, Mark, here’s a fine change for you!” “I don’t believe that the boy knows how to blush,” whispered Charles. “But I hope that you don’t mean to keep us long here,” continued Jack, looking round rather contemptuously on the clean little dwelling. “What do you mean?” replied Ernest; “surely you prefer it to the poor-house!” “Why, you don’t think that I’ll stand living in a cottage, while my brother is in a castle! That would be rather a good joke I should say.” “He’s no brother of yours,” cried Charles, angrily. “I’m as good as he any day,” muttered the boy, glancing at Ernest with mingled envy and dislike. The young peer mastered his temper, though it cost him an effort. “I have placed you,” said he, “where one much wiser than either of us thinks that you will be best; I hope that you will be comfortable, and learn your work, and never have real cause to regret coming here.” With these words Ernest and Charles quitted the cottage, overhearing as they passed out Ben’s disappointed exclamation, “I thought he’d have made us gentlefolk too!”