sister's wedding cards into their shining envelopes, and directing
them in readiness for the post the next morning, while they were
sealed by a youth of the same age as Claude, a small slim figure,
with light complexion and hair, and dark gray eyes full of brightness
and vivacity.

He was standing, so as to be more on a level with the high candle,
and as Emily's writing was not quite so rapid as his sealing, he
amused himself in the intervals with burning his own fingers, by
twisting the wax into odd shapes.

'Why do you not seal up his eyes?' inquired Reginald, with an arch
glance towards his brother on the sofa.

'Do it yourself, you rogue,' was the answer, at the same time
approaching with the hot sealing-wax in his hand--a demonstration
which occasioned Claude to open his eyes very wide, without giving
himself any further trouble about the matter.

'Eh?' said he, 'now they try to look innocent, as if no one could
hear them plotting mischief.'

'Them! it was not!--Redgie there--young ladies--I appeal--was not I
as innocent?'--was the very rapid, incoherent, and indistinct answer.

'After so lucid and connected a justification, no more can be said,'
replied Claude, in a kind of 'leave me, leave me to repose' tone,
which occasioned Lilias to say, 'I am afraid you are very tired.'

'Tired! what has he done to tire him?'