Leger!" Father looked quite taken aback. He sat quite still before
he spoke.

"Well, Mr. St. Leger, I shall think over the matter for a while, and
shall presently let you know my decision. In the meantime, would you
like something to eat? I take it that as you must have started very
early, you have not had any breakfast?" Rupert smiled quite
genially:

"That is true, sir. I haven't broken bread since dinner last night,
and I am ravenously hungry." Father rang the bell, and told the
footman who answered it to send the housekeeper. When she came,
father said to her:

"Mrs. Martindale, take this boy to your room and give him some
breakfast." Rupert stood very still for some seconds. His face had
got red again after his paleness. Then he bowed to my father, and
followed Mrs. Martindale, who had moved to the door.

Nearly an hour afterwards my father sent a servant to tell him to
come to the study. My mother was there, too, and I had gone back
with her. The man came back and said:

"Mrs. Martindale, sir, wishes to know, with her respectful service,
if she may have a word with you." Before father could reply mother
told him to bring her. The housekeeper could not have been far off--
that kind are generally near a keyhole--for she came at once. When
she came in, she stood at the door curtseying and looking pale.
Father said: