after Mr. Chillingly Gordon entered the drawing-room. He had already
established a visiting acquaintance with the Traverses. Travers had
taken a liking to him. Mrs. Campion found him an extremely
well-informed, unaffected young man, very superior to young men in
general. Cecilia was cordially polite to Kenelm's cousin. Altogether
that was a very happy day for Sir Peter. He enjoyed greatly his
dinner at the Garrick, where he met some old acquaintance and was
presented to some new "celebrities." He observed that Gordon stood
well with these eminent persons. Though as yet undistinguished
himself, they treated him with a certain respect, as well as with
evident liking. The most eminent of them, at least the one with the
most solidly established reputation, said in Sir Peter's ear, "You may
be proud of your nephew Gordon!"

"He is not my nephew, only the son of a very distant cousin."

"Sorry for that. But he will shed lustre on kinsfolk, however
distant. Clever fellow, yet popular; rare combination,--sure to
rise."

Sir Peter suppressed a gulp in the throat. "Ah, if some one as
eminent had spoken thus of Kenelm!"

But he was too generous to allow that half-envious sentiment to last
more than a moment. Why should he not be proud of any member of the
family who could irradiate the antique obscurity of the Chillingly
race? And how agreeable this clever young man made himself to Sir
Peter!

The next day Gordon insisted on accompanying him to see the latest