Vance carried off the canvas, and Lionel followed slowly. Sophy gazed at
their departing forms from the open window; Waife stumped about the room,
rubbing his hands, "He'll do; he 'll do: I always thought so." Sophy
turned: "Who'll do?--the young gentleman? Do what?"

WAIFE.-"The young gentleman?-as if I was thinking of him! Our new
companion; I have been with him this last hour. Wonderful natural
gifts."

SOPHY (ruefully).--"It is alive, then?"

WAIFE.--"Alive! yes, I should think so."

SOPHY (half-crying.)--"I am very sorry; I know I shall hate it."

WAIFF.--"Tut, darling: get me my pipe; I'm happy."

SOPHY (cutting short her fit of ill-humour).--"Are you? then I am, and I
will not hate it."




CHAPTER XII.

In which it is shown that a man does this or declines to do that for
reasons best known to himself,--a reserve which is extremely
conducive to the social interests of a community, since the
conjecture into the origin and nature of those reasons stimulates