'I did not ask you to prescribe for me.'

'Oh, ho! Then you were the Master Coxe who sent the note through
Bethia! Let me tell you it has cost her her place, and was a very silly
letter into the bargain.'

'It was not the conduct of a gentleman, sir, to intercept it, and to
open it, and to read words never addressed to you, sir.'

'No!' said Mr. Gibson, with a slight twinkle in his eye and a curl on
his lips, not unnoticed by the indignant Mr. Coxe. 'I believe I was
once considered tolerably good-looking, and I dare say I was as great a
coxcomb as any one at twenty; but I don't think that even then I should
quite have believed that all those pretty compliments were addressed to
myself.'

'It was not the conductor a gentleman, sir,' repeated Mr. Coxe,
stammering over his words--he was going on to say something more, when
Mr. Gibson broke in.

'And let me tell you, young man,' replied Mr. Gibson, with a sudden
sternness in his voice, 'that what you have done is only excusable in
consideration of your youth and extreme ignorance of what are
considered the laws of domestic honour. I receive you into my house as
a member of my family--you induce one of my servants--corrupting her
with a bribe, I have no doubt--'

'Indeed, sir! I never gave her a penny.'

'Then you ought to have done. You should always pay those who do your