ushered into the neat little drawing-room, where he found his sister, Maria, seated in anxious expectation, who eagerly welcomed him, notwithstanding the cold and almost repulsive carelessness, with which her kind reception was met.

"Dinner will soon be announced," she observed after the first greeting had taken place, "but I am sure, dear Gilbert, that you will like to see the baby before we go in. It is such a little darling, even George thinks it pretty, and he is not so fond young children as you are.

of

"Pray do not trouble yourself to fetch it," said Gilbert, in a very unconcerned tone, "I am not at all fond of babies, and do not understand them."

"Oh, but you will like mine, Gilbert, when you see it; it is no trouble." And Maria rang the bell for the nurse, who quickly answered the summons, with the little treasure in her arms, and the mother relieving her of the burden, began to descant upon the infant's various perfections.

66 Will you not take it in your arms, dear Gilbert, for a moment, and feel how heavy it is already? Don't be afraid, it is very good and quiet. George has held it once or twice, have you not, dearest ?"

Mr. Tracey smiled, and observed that although he did not doubt that he had proved a very awkward nurse, the conduct of the baby had been beyond reproach; but Gilbert knitted his brow, and while his cheek flushed with irritation, exclaimed,—“ If you love me, Maria, take the child away, it is going to cry, and there is nothing of which I have a greater horror."

Poor Maria looked very disappointed; the tears started to her eyes at the thought that her brother should so much disregard his only nephew, whom every one had pronounced to be one of the finest and sweetest-tempered children they had ever beheld; while Mr. Tracey, although allowing in his

mind, that it was very natural a young man like Gilbert should have no great admiration for infants of that early age, could not help thinking that he might have made some kind and amiable remark to the young mother on a topic so interesting to her, without compromising his sincerity. But the unfortunate cause of these reflections was soon afterwards taken away, and dinner being announced, Gilbert accompanied his relatives to the dining-room.

"I am so glad to see you here with us, Gilbert," said Maria, quickly recovering her good humour, "it recals home to one so much. How suddenly you returned. I suppose you did not find the society so agreeable as you expected. I suppose Margaret is just the same, even to her perpetual black dress.'

"Yes, just the same."

"And what do you think of the Lesters? Mamma does not seem to like Ion much, he is a Tractarian, is he not ?"

"Yes, something of that kind; goes to church every day, and has family prayers, and he is always about with Mr. Bernard, and won't dine with any one without looking in the calendar to see if it is a Fast day, or Friday. You would think he was a clergyman, to see how he goes about the parish. The other two are boys, and of course he has his own way with them."

"I suppose Margaret is quite pleased with him, then, that is just her sort, she will be more disagreeable than ever. Well, I suppose we shall be obliged to ask her with mamma and Alice at Christmas, for we are going to invite them to come here, because we do not wish to take baby from home, and mamma fancies that she wants a change. But about baby, dear Gilbert, I was so afraid you would be vexed at not being asked to stand for the

baby, but he was so ill once, we were obliged to have him christened in a hurry."

"It was just as well, for I should have had to refuse, as some one else would have been preferable on the child's account as well as my own, since I should neither have understood the duties, nor have desired the responsibility."

Mr. Tracey looked annoyed at Gilbert's abrupt assertion, for Maria's face wore an expression of disappointment at her brother's want of interest and sympathy, as she replied, "Why, Gilbert, I think you must have adopted some of Margaret's scruples, but however it does not matter now, it is all over. I suppose we shall have the pleasure of seeing you here with mamma at Christmas ?"

"No, indeed, Maria, I must disappoint you, I do not intend even going home, for I have an engagement with some fellows to spend the vacation in London."

Maria looked perfectly petrified with astonish

ment.

"Oh, Gilbert, what can make you wish to be absent, when all the family will meet together so happily ?"

"It is of no consequence upon what I decide," interrupted Gilbert, impatiently. "I believe no one will miss me. You will not be less gay for my absence, and indeed I see no reason why I should not enjoy myself in my own way."

Neither Mr. Tracey nor Maria ventured to oppose so independent an opinion, and at an early hour of the evening, Gilbert took an abrupt leave of his relatives, alleging as an excuse that he had a great deal of reading to get through, and deprecating all idea of another interview with the baby, he left his sister and her husband not very agreeably impressed by his visit.

Gilbert spent the term very idly at the Univer

sity, and laid himself open to the censure of the authorities. However, he flattered himself that Margaret would reproach herself for being the cause of his failure, in having disappointed his hopes, and consequently of having deprived him of all interest in passing events or occupations. Accordingly he wrote a cold and brief letter to his mother, declaring his intention of proceeding to town, there to spend the vacation; and the following day he set out for London with a party of riotous young Oxonians.

CHAPTER XVI.

"Thrice blest, whose lives are faithful prayers,
Whose loves in higher love endure."

TENNYSON.

"I SUPPOSE, my dear Margaret, that Alice does not like to leave her mamma," observed Miss Pellew, as she presided at the tea-table, round which her three nephews and two nieces were seated: for Margaret and Georgie had been invited to join the family party that evening, "or else I should have thought she might have come over with you."

"Aunt Dudley does not approve of her going out without herself."

"Indeed!" said Miss Pellew, drawing up her erect form still more stiffly, with an air of indignant surprise, "I don't see what objection there could be to her coming with you to your brother's house, especially when I am here."

"Oh, Aunt Philippa," began Georgie, “it is not a propriety objection, but a Protestant one. She thinks that Ion keeps a Jesuit or two locked up in his oratory, ready to pounce upon any unwary one who may be lured within its precincts; and of course she thinks Margaret's constant society presents danger enough, without her sending Alice here."

"I think there must be a little of your tendency to exaggerate in that remark, Georgiana, but I am quite aware that your aunt Dudley never was a strong-minded person; still, I think she might