"It IS a man," continued young Henry; then stroked his cousin's
chin. "No, no, I do not know whether it is or not."

"I tell you again," said the dean, "he is a boy of your own age; you
and he are cousins, for I am his father."

"How can that be?" said young Henry. "He called you SIR."

"In this country," said the dean, "polite children do not call their
parents FATHER and MOTHER."

"Then don't they sometimes forget to love them as such?" asked
Henry.

His uncle became now impatient to interrogate him in every
particular concerning his father's state. Lady Clementina felt
equal impatience to know where the father was, whether he were
coming to live with them, wanted anything of them, and every
circumstance in which her vanity was interested. Explanations
followed all these questions; but which, exactly agreeing with what
the elder Henry's letter has related, require no recital here.



CHAPTER XII.



That vanity which presided over every thought and deed of Lady
Clementina was the protector of young Henry within her house. It