recovered himself.

"It is nothing," he said, in his ordinary gentle voice, "a trifling
indisposition. I wish you both good morning, and beg you to bear my
words in mind."

When he was fairly gone, George came up to his cousin and laid his
hand upon his arm.

"Why do you insist upon quarrelling with me, Philip? it always ends
like this, you always get the worst of it."

But Philip's only reply was to shake him roughly off, and to vanish
through the door towards the lake. George regarded his departing form
with a peculiar smile, which was rendered even more peculiar by the
distortion of his swollen features.



CHAPTER II

It is difficult to imagine any study that would prove more fascinating
in itself or more instructive in its issues, than the examination of
the leading characteristics of individual families as displayed
through a series of generations. But it is a subject that from its
very nature is more or less unapproachable, since it is but little
that we know even of our immediate ancestors. Occasionally in glancing
at the cracking squares of canvas, many of which cannot even boast a
name, but which alone remain to speak of the real and active life, the
joys and griefs, the sins and virtues that centred in the originals of